Descriptivism

Descriptivism is a linguistic approach that studies how language is actually used by speakers in everyday life, rather than prescribing rules for how it should be used. It observes and analyzes language patterns, grammar, and vocabulary as they naturally occur. For example, a descriptivist would note that many people say "ain't" and treat it as valid usage, rather than labeling it as incorrect. Essentially, descriptivism aims to describe language objectively, acknowledging its evolving and flexible nature, rather than enforcing strict norms or standards on how language should be spoken or written.