There is a Facebook group called, "Prescriptive grammar is just a tool for oppressing the sub-elite." Which of the following statements would its members likely agree with?
A) Language change is decay
B) Dictionaries are the only appropriate authority on language
C) Standardization is a social process, not a natural part of language
D) Language mavens are the only appropriate authority on language
E) Variation in language is a social process, not a natural part of language

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The group's name suggests that they reject prescriptive grammar, or grammar rules that dictate how language should be used, as a tool for oppressing those who are not considered linguistically elite or privileged. Therefore, it is likely that they believe standardization of language is a social process, rather than a natural one. They may also believe that variation in language is a natural result of social factors, rather than a deviation from a standardized norm. They are unlikely to believe that language change is decay or that dictionaries or language mavens are the only appropriate authorities on language.

There Is a Facebook Group Called, "Prescriptive Grammar Is Just