Reference no: EM134020071

Question 1

Define the difference between prescriptivism and descriptivism.

Many people in Do You Speak American consider themselves descriptivist, including Dr. Jesse Sheidlower and other linguists that MacNeil interviews.

Consider the way these people present themselves in the interviews. Do they use mainstream or a nonmainstream language variety when they speak? Is it possible to be a descriptivist and still use prescriptive norms? How would you describe your own use of language in various situations-for instance, writing a term paper, chatting casually with a professor, inviting a friend to a party, arguing with a sibling, requesting information from a stranger over the phone?

Questions 2

MacNeil claims, "the greatest division America ever experienced was between North and South, and that is still reflected in our language." Do you agree? How do North/South differences compare to East/West differences? What relationship between historical migration, modern migration, and language?

Question 3

Using specific examples from, "Do You Speak American?" and from your own experience, discuss the entertainment industry's influence on the language of Americans.