Standard language: Definitions

Having standards is seen as something desirable for a range of things we now take the notion of standard time, standard measurements, standard shoe sizes for granted. The problem is that language is a little bit like those other things (standard time, measurements, etc.) which are used for academic or more learned purposes where exactness, economy and non-ambiguity are highly desirable. So what is a standard language? Tentatively, we can say that it is the language that is associated with important and careful contexts of use such as literary writing, learned writing, legal writing or the Quran and enjoys a high degree of prestige. It also tends to be the version of the language that is taught to foreigners. Here are some definitions

Md. Asaduzzam

1. the process of one variety of a language becoming widely accepted throughout the speech community as a supra-dialectal norm the best form of the language rated above regional and social dialects (Ferguson 1968) 2. the codification and acceptance, within the community of users, of a formal set of norms defining correct usage (Stewart 1968) 3. a codified form of the language accepted by and serving as a model to the larger speech community (Garvin and Mathiot 1968) Md. Asaduzzaman Roll : 20110010 Characteristics of Standard language Typical characteristics of a standard language include several of the following: An authoritative dictionary which records the vocabulary of the language An authoritative grammar which records the forms, rules and structures of the language A recognized standard of pronunciation; Mention of the language in legal documents (for example the constitution of a country); The use of the language throughout public life (for example in a countrys parliament) and its formal instruction in schools; A body of literary texts; Formal instruction of and research into the language and its literature in institutions of higher education; An institution promoting the use of the language and its formal instruction in educational institutions abroad Translations of key religious texts such as the Bible or the Koran Processes of Standardisation Standardisation is generally thought of as a process that involves four stages. We need not think of them as being chronological. Indeed, the process of standardisation is an on-going one, and a whole range of forces are at work. Selection Variability is a fact of life for almost all languages. There are different regional dialects, class dialects, situational varieties. Standardisation represents an attempt to curtail, minimise if not eliminate this high degree of variability. The easiest solution seems to be to pick (although not arbitrarily) one of these varieties to be elevated to the status of the standard. Acceptance The acceptance by the community of the norms of the variety selected over those of rival varieties, through the promotion, spread, establishment and enforcement of the norms. This is done through institutions, agencies, authorities such as schools, ministries, the media, cultural establishments, etc. In fact, the standard language comes to be regarded not just as the best form of the language, but as the language itself (eg consider the claim that Mandarin is Chinese in Singapore). The other varieties are then dialects, which tend implicitly to get

stigmatised as lesser forms, associated with the not too highly regarded people, who are seen as less educated, slovenly, uncouth, etc. Elaboration For the variety selected to represent the desired norms, it must be able to discharge a whole range of functions that it may be called upon to discharge, including abstract, intellectual functions. Where it lacks resources to do so, these are developed. Thus a standard language is often characterised as possessing maximal variation in function, minimal variation in form. Codification The norms and rules of grammar, use, etc. Which govern the variety selected have to be formulated, and set down definitively in grammars, dictionaries, spellers, manuals of style, texts, etc.

Examples
Arabic comprises many varieties that are considered a single language but the language of the Qur'an, the contemporary refined vernacular of Muhammad's time, the 7th century CE is theArabic Standard language .The Chinese language ((MPQ) comprises a wide varieties of spoken forms, which are (i) Mandarin, (ii) Wu, (iii) Cantonese, and (iv) Min. But Standard Chinese is based on the Beijing dialect of Mandarin, and is the official language of the People's Republic of China, In British English, the standard, known as Standard English (SE) is historically based on the language of the medieval English court of Chancery. The late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries saw the establishment of this standard as the norm of "polite" society, that is to say of the upper classes. The dialects of American English vary throughout the US, but the General American accent the unofficial standard language for being accentless; it is based on Midwestern English, distributed within an isogloss area encompassing the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, etc.

It is just fo my personal use Md. Asaduzzaman, Student(MAEL, Evening programe) Roll : 20110010 Session : 2011 Dept. of English Islamic University, Kushtia.