descriptiu

Descriptiu is a Catalan adjective meaning descriptive, relating to description or the act of describing. It is used to characterize language, texts, or analyses that aim to describe phenomena as they occur, rather than to prescribe rules or prescribe values. The feminine form is descriptiva, and it follows standard Catalan gender agreement with the noun it modifies. In plural, forms align with Catalan pluralization rules for adjectives.

In linguistic usage, the term describes an approach known as descriptive linguistics, which seeks to document how a language is actually used by its speakers. This contrasts with prescriptiu (prescriptive) approaches, which set norms about what is considered correct or proper. Descriptive methods are applied to grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, and discourse, aiming to capture real-world usage without imposing judgments about correctness.

Common phrases in Catalan include gramàtica descriptiva, lingüística descriptiva, and anàlisi descriptiva. These terms appear in academic writing as well as in educational contexts when distinguishing between describing language as it is and prescribing how it should be used. The concept has parallels in many languages under the equivalent of “descriptive” or “descriptif/descriptivo.”

Etymology traces the word to Latin descriptivus, with cognates in other Romance languages and in English. In Catalan, descriptiu aligns with cultural and scholarly usage that emphasizes recording and describing linguistic phenomena rather than enforcing normative standards. See also prescriptiu, gramàtica descriptiva, and lingüística descriptiva.