Re: Re: Ubiquitous prescriptivism

[RonButters at AOL.COM]

In a message dated 9/10/04 1:14:04 PM, GordonMJ at MISSOURI.EDU writes:


> I very much agree with Ed Finegan's observations on the hypocricy in the
> prescription vs. description mantra that is (or has been) so often repeated in
> introductory textbooks and courses. He makes his case strongly in his
> contribution to the Cambridge History of the English Language, vol 6.
>

I agree also with Ed--in fact, I made much the same point in a paper that I
gave several years ago at ADS. And I also agree with Matt that the distinction
is still useful if one is sensible about how one uses it.