Langbeschreibung

Langbeschreibung, literally "language description" in German, denotes the systematic documentation and analysis of a language's structure and use. It encompasses phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicon, semantics and pragmatics, as well as discourse structure, typology, and sociolinguistic variation. The aim is to produce an accurate, non-prescriptive account of how the language operates for speakers and researchers, rather than prescribing how it should be used.

Descriptive in approach, Langbeschreibung involves collecting data from native speakers, identifying patterns, and describing the rules that govern the language. Methods include fieldwork, elicitation, participant observation, audio and video recording, transcription with glossing, and corpus analysis. Outputs commonly take the form of grammars, dictionaries or lexicons, and annotated corpora, alongside resources such as orthographies and instructional materials.

Langbeschreibung is central to language documentation, maintenance, and revitalization, particularly for endangered languages. It provides data for linguistic theory through cross-linguistic comparison and typology and supports practical applications in translation, education, and technology development, such as spell checkers and speech technologies.

Challenges in Langbeschreibung include substantial dialectal variation, small speaker communities, and ethical considerations surrounding consent, ownership, and governance of language data. Responsible practice emphasizes collaboration with language communities, transparent data stewardship, and alignment of scholarly goals with community needs and language rights.