preskriptivismus

Preskriptivismus is a stance in linguistics and language usage that emphasizes rules, norms, and judgments about how language should be used. Proponents argue that language should be guided by codified standards to maintain clarity, tradition, and social cohesion. The prescriptive approach distinguishes itself from descriptive linguistics, which aims to describe how people actually use language without judging or prescribing.

Historically, prescriptivism rose to prominence with the development of grammar books, dictionaries, and usage manuals. In English, 18th and 19th centuries saw influential prescriptive works that outlined "correct" forms and discouraged perceived errors. Over time, such guides became linked to notions of education, prestige, and national standard varieties. Prescriptivists typically formulate rules about syntax, morphology, vocabulary, pronunciation, and style, and they may classify certain forms as acceptable or unacceptable, proper or improper.

Key features of preskriptivismus include the codification of standard language varieties, normative judgments about usage, and practical guidance aimed at writers, editors, teachers, and speakers. Prescriptive norms often address issues such as sentence structure, word choice, punctuation, and stylistic preferences, and they can reflect social and cultural values as much as linguistic considerations.

Criticism from descriptivist perspectives argues that language continually evolves and that prescriptive rules can stigmatize dialects and natural variation. Despite this, prescriptivism remains influential in school curricula, editorial practice, and many style guides, where clear standards for formal writing and professional communication are valued. The ongoing discussion between prescriptive and descriptive approaches reflects broader debates about language standardization, variation, and change.