传统语法是prescriptive5. Traditional Grammar vs. Modern Grammar (传统语法与现代语法) Traditional grammar can be considered as prescriptive; it is based on “high” (religious, literary) written language. It sets models for language users to follow. But Modern linguistics is descriptive; its investigations are based on authentic and mainly spoken language data. It is supposed to be scientific and objective and the task of linguists is supposed to describe the language people actually use, whether it is “correct” or not. 传统语法是规定式的，是基于“高度的”书面语。它为语言使用者提供可供遵循的模式。但是现代语法是描写式的，对语法的研究是基于真实的并且主要是口语化的语言数据。它应该是比较科学和客观的，而语言学家的任务也应该是描述人们如何在实际中使用语言，无论其是否“正确”。