Prescriptiveness versus descriptiveness—an approach for Northern Sotho lexicography

Abstract

The aim of this article is to focus upon two basic, and often conflicting lexicographical principles, prescriptiveness and descriptiveness, which have not as yet received any attention in the compilation of dictionaries for Northern Sotho, or other African languages. It will be attempted to exploit the virtues and weaknesses within these principles for languages with a relatively long lexicographical tradition, like English, in order to formulate a policy for Northern Sotho. It will be argued that the authoritarian perception of the notions correctness and authority should be redefined for Northern Sotho in terms of the more modern descriptive approach towards the compilation of dictionaries in general. Notwithstanding the fact that Northern Sotho has a relatively short lexicographical tradition and that the process of standardization has not yet been completed, it will be concluded that all dictionaries to be compiled for Northern Sotho must be descriptive in the sense that they reflect actual language usage in written and oral communication which are carefully selected on the grounds of frequency of use, generality and acceptability to the average user.