usagedescriptive
Usagedescriptive is a term used to describe a methodological stance in linguistics that prioritizes documenting how language is actually used over prescribing how it should be used. It sits at the intersection of usage-based linguistics and descriptive grammar, and is often employed in corpus linguistics, lexicography, and language teaching materials to reflect real-world language patterns rather than normative rules.
Origins and theory: The approach draws on usage-based theories that language structure emerges from language use,
Data and methods: Analysts compile large corpora, including spoken and written text, annotate parts of speech,
Applications: Dictionaries document common usages; grammars describe actual constructions; educators align materials to observed usage; sociolinguistic
Criticism and limitations: The term is not universally used and can overlap with general descriptive linguistics;