deskriptivan

Deskriptivan is an adjective used in several South Slavic languages, meaning descriptive or characterized by description. It derives from the Latin descriptivus and appears in languages such as Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, Montenegrin, and Slovenian, with gendered forms like deskriptivan (masculine), deskriptivna (feminine), and deskriptivno (neuter).

In linguistics, the term is central to descriptive linguistics, which studies language as it is actually used rather than prescribing rules. A deskriptivna grammar, for example, aims to document phonology, morphology, syntax, and vocabulary across dialects and registers without judging correctness or prescribing norms. Descriptive analysis relies on empirical data—recordings, corpora, and fieldwork—and emphasizes variation, language change, and context.

Beyond linguistics, deskriptivan is used in other disciplines to indicate a focus on description rather than normative evaluation. In literature, art, or social sciences, a deskriptivan approach might prioritize vivid, accurate description of phenomena, scenes, or behaviors over evaluative judgments.

In summary, deskriptivan denotes a descriptive, non-normative stance or quality. In linguistic contexts, it helps distinguish empirical study of language in use from prescriptive approaches, providing a framework for documenting how language actually operates across speakers, regions, and time.