Read the following passage and answer the following questions by choosing the most appropriate answer.
Linguistics, an intricate and ever-evolving academic discipline, has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent decades, transcending its origins as a mere study of language to become a profound exploration of the complexities of human cognition and communication. The expanding purview of linguistics is a testament to its growing significance in understanding our world and enhancing our technological prowess. One of the most fundamental paradigm shift within linguistics has been its transition from a prescriptive to a descriptive approach. Early linguistic studies, embodied by the structuralist principles of Ferdinand de Saussure, predominantly focused on normative rules and language structures. However, the advent of modern linguistics, spearheaded by Noam Chomsky’s groundbreaking generative grammar theory, has heralded a new era of linguistic inquiry—one that seeks to understand not how languages should be used but how they are used in practice. This transformation has enabled linguists to uncover the underlying universals that govern human language, revealing its intricate tapestry. The synergy between linguistics and computer science has been instrumental in shaping our digital age. The birth of computational linguistics has given rise to transformative technologies, such as machine translation, speech recognition, and sentiment analysis. These applications, weaving the intricacies of human language with cutting-edge technology, have revolutionised fields as diverse as e-commerce, healthcare, and social media. The confluence of linguistics and computer science continues to chart new frontiers, shedding light on the symbiotic relationship between humans and machines. Moreover, interdisciplinary collaborations have propelled linguistics into uncharted territories. Cognitive linguistics marries linguistic theory with insights from psychology, neuroscience, and anthropology, unravelling the profound interplay between language and human cognition. Sociolinguistics and anthropological linguistics delve into the social and cultural dimensions of language, elucidating linguistic variations and their socio-cultural implications. This interdisciplinary nexus enriches our understanding of how language permeates all facets of human life.