Prescritivist or Descriptivist?

The Prescriptive Approach

The prescriptive approach to language follows a strict set of rules for the proper use of a language. For example, in the sentence: Who did you go with? Although it sounds okay to me, according to the Prescriptive approach, the rule state that a sentence cannot end with a preposition. The grammatically correct form of the sentence is: With whom did you go with?

The Descriptive Approach

The descriptive approach to language attempts to describe the regular structures of the language as it was used or as it evolves, not according to some view of how it should be used.

Although I think both approaches are valid, I would consider myself a descriptivist because I think language changes naturally over time and is influenced by many different perspectives and perceptions of the human being. I believe that every language should be flexible enough to incorporate new words, sentence structures, and sounds. Since, language is unique to different cultures and societies, I believe that the rules of language shouldn’t be too strict, as to suppress, or censor creativity and innovation. For example, in my culture creating new words and redefining established words is how many African American communities choose to express themselves in a language that was originally forced upon them during the past history of slavery. I think it’s ironic that a culture of people that have historically been marginalized and discriminated against are responsible for creating a worldwide pop cultural phenomenon with jazz, hip-hop, and r&b music, which has become a transformational force in the English language. If it were up to prescritivists words like jive, cool,  booty, chill, and holla, which make our language interesting, colorful, and live would be banned.