Prescription VS. Description Dictionaries

Every once in a while, sombody notices that some stupid cultural bit (like "LOL") has been added to the dictionary, then they go around complaining about it and the decline of culture - as if culture is something that sites on a number line.

Here are some examples

But whenever somebody complains about whatever decline in English language, I tell them to stop being such a brabbler and learn the difference between prescription and description dictionaries.

The original "Just Google It" was to throw one of these at somebody

Lexicographers (word people, dictionary writers, language analyzers) have two methods of choice when writing dictionaries, Prescription or Description. 

Prescription dictionaries issue judgement. They denote and command proper use/practice of language, grammar, pronunciation, or syntax. Prescription dictionaries are seemingly resistant to changing.

Linguistic description does not establish rules, it is applied taxonomy. A descriptive dictionary reports what people say. If a neologism is common enough, then it goes in the dictionary. It is in these sorts of dictionaries that controversial or slang words/neologisms such as "chillax", "bromance", and "LOL" find home. NOT in prescription ones.

Well, not yet, at least. Language is always changing and evolving and, despite some lexocographer's stubbornness, that change is powered by the people. Language is about communication. If one can communicate effectively, that is what matters. I would like to say that lexicographers in the 'prescription' camp do not care about informal use, but that probably isn't true. Those word nerds are surely losing sleep over spoken abbreviations or anything "meme"-ish.

Language is a form of communication that can be found in both extremely formal and extremely informal environments. It is always changing, and whether certain changes are good or bad is a matter of opinion.

The clash between formal (Yes) and informal (Yeah) language is ever-present and very interesting. It goes back to the creation of English as a language. (If you click one link make it that one).

So stop bitching. If you don't like a word's existence, and think people who say "YOLO" or "Bromance", then just don't use it. Boycott the words you think have no place in language. Also, stop commenting on internet articles. Your opinion that English is declining is uninformed and pointless.
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