descriptive linguistics

noun
1.
the study of the grammar, classification, and arrangement of the features of a language at a given time, without reference to the history of the language or comparison with other languages.
Also called synchronic linguistics.
Origin
1925-30
British Dictionary definitions for descriptive linguistics

descriptive linguistics

noun
1.
(functioning as sing) the study of the description of the internal phonological, grammatical, and semantic structures of languages at given points in time without reference to their histories or to one another Also called synchronic linguistics Compare historical linguistics