Standardisation

• Standardisation is the process wherein a language’s spelling, grammar, and vocabulary are regulated. These norms often appear in formal written language and represent the ‘best practise’.

• The development of printing press in the 15th Century by Johannes Gutenberg significantly influenced language standardisation. This was a key mechanism in spreading uniform spellings and grammar rules.

• The codification and standardisation of English was largely enabled by the creation of dictionaries, grammars, and the establishment of the King James Bible in 1611.

• Samuel Johnson’s dictionary in 1755 was a landmark in the standardisation of English. It set standard definitions, spellings and usage for many words.

• The standard form of any language is often associated with high status, authority, and formality. In the English language, Standard English is widely accepted and used in education, media, government documents, etc.

• Dialect levelling is another force for standardisation. This involves the reduction of linguistic variety in terms of pronunciation, dialect words, or grammatical forms. It often occurs because of social mobility and geographical mobility.

• Standardisation often leads to prescriptivism, which is the notion that one form of language is superior to others and should be used exclusively. This is often argued against by descriptive linguists who believe that all forms have value.

• It’s also important to remember that the process of standardisation is gradual and constant; language continues to evolve over time, influenced by different external factors such as technology and social change. This can result in changes or additions to the standard form.

• Lastly, remember, despite the high status of Standard English, other regional dialects, sociolects and idiolects are equally valid forms of the language. Each provides insights into the histories, societies and identities of their users.