Introducing English Linguistics

Language and ideology
12
INTRODUCING ENGLISH LINGUISTICS

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The second quote is from a book written by a linguist; it focuses on the
relationship between language change and language decay:
In brief, the puristic attitude towards language – the idea that there is
an absolute standard of correctness that should be maintained – has its
origin in a natural nostalgic tendency, supplemented and intensified by
social pressures. It is illogical, and impossible to pin down to any firm
base. Purists behave as if there was a vintage year when language
achieved a measure of excellence which we should all strive to maintain.
In fact, there never was such a year. The language of Chaucer’s or
Shakespeare’s time was no better or no worse than that of our own –
just different.
Jean Aitchison, Language Change: Progress or Decay (1991)
Traditionally within linguistics, people like Simon have been labeled as
prescriptivists
because their goal is to prescribe usage: identify so-called
correct and incorrect instances of language usage, and in essence tell peo-
ple how they should speak and write. Aitchison, in contrast, is a