Prescriptivism, descriptivism, and mental grammar

From last time Prescriptive grammar vs. mental grammar

Prescriptive grammar
List of rules External Memorize rules youve been taught to know somethings wrong Conscious Artificial, cultural phenomenon Remember prescription

Mental grammar
List of rules Internal Gut feeling that somethings wrong Unconscious Natural

Rule A Rule D Rule H

Rule A Rule D Rule E Rule C Rule D Rule E Rule B Rule F Rule G

Rule A Rule D Rule H

Rule A Rule D Rule E Rule C Rule D Rule E Rule B Rule F Rule G

 As scientists, we want to describe what people actually say (descriptive grammar), rather than prescribe or tell people what they should say (prescriptive grammar) But whats the difference between descriptive and mental grammar?

Performance vs. competence

Descriptive grammar: what people actually say
Linguistic performance

Mental grammar: what we guess people are capable of saying given unlimited memory, time, and energy
Linguistic competence

Examples:
Jane said that Tom told her that Susan said that. great great great great great... grandmother

 Also, people make mistakes! Just because something comes out of someones mouth (descriptive grammar) doesnt mean that that is part of their mental grammar What linguists are actually interested in is mental grammar, but descriptive grammar is a necessary stepping stone in getting there

Prescriptive rules are arbitrary

Individuals in society are given social authority to tell others how to speak, but this is arbitrary!

MYTH: Some people drop the form of be (example: If you good.) because they are being lazy

Common things non-linguists say:

AAE is bad/lazy English Southerners speak incorrectly

These all stem from prescriptivist thinking. But lets look at an example of mental grammar in AAE.

AAE
The verbs be and have are optional in African American English (AAE) in sentences where they are required in Standard English (SAE). If you good Lets compare the option of dropping be in AAE with the option of contracting in SAE
AAE be dropping
If you are good Who is it? If you good *Who it? I dont care what you are! *I dont care what you!

SAE contractions
If youre good *I dont care what youre! *Whos it?

be is not being dropped just anywhere in AAE. Its only allowed to be dropped in the places where contractions are allowed in SAE.

Structure and rules will be found in any and all language varieties, no matter how unlucky they are in their place in society.