Understanding Language Standardization

Nows that we have already discussed background, in order to understand Language Standardization, it will be presented the definition of language stardardization, the initial effects of printing in it and a theory based on language standardisation.

• What is Language Standardization?

It is the process by which a vernacular in a community becomes the standard language (SL) form. This carries implicit elements of prestige (whereby the SL vernacular is valued more highly than others), stability, and common usage. Alternative variations are either eliminated and/or stigmatized.

• What are the effects of Printing?

The arrival of print capitalism and widespread written language revolutionized both language use, and eventually ideas of nation and nationality. Print capitalism supported the necessary development of writing in society, producing what Milroy and Milroy (1991) call a “quantum leap” in language standardization, certainly for European languages. (This discussion concentrates on Europe where most writers have focused. Elsewhere, absolutism and/or the absence of technological development during these years probably prevented the processes described).

Printing presses were in use in Europe by the mid15th century. Printing enabled planned utterances to be devised and circulated. Communication was no longer limited to formulaic administration, religious tracts, or spontaneous speech. Ideas and theories were propagated, especially concerning religion. With the invention of the printing press, written ideas could be reproduced on a massive scale, not only in the Church Latin that was the traditional language of European religion, but in vernaculars that could be more widely understood. Printers saw an opportunity to both establish the success of their trade and make money, whilst those involved in the religious arguments could enlarge their appeal. Thus, it is no surprise that Luther “became the first bestselling author...in the coalition between Protestantism and printcapitalism” (Anderson, 1991:39), authoring onethird of all books sold in the German vernacular between 1518 and 1535.

Print languages affected the variety of vernaculars used in a particular community. Massproduced written texts started to provide fixed language forms, giving a degree of permanence to new norms and preventing extreme language change and diversity. Print languages were inclusive for those who could read them, whilst excluding those who could not; and they were delimited geographically, initializing a geographical sense of “us” and “other” for people and places.

• Language Standardisation Theory

Haugen (1964) suggests a fourstage model for the development of language standardization. The initial selection of a single vernacular was important so that printers could ensure that their texts were comprehensible to all readers at all times in all places within the community. This enabled a broad market to develop, and the cutting of costs (i.e. maximise profits) by facilitating mass production.

However, which vernacular to choose? For those producing the texts, it was reasonable to use the language they spoke (or was spoken in their geographical and social community). For example, in the case of England, the vernacular chosen as the vehicle of print capitalism was the language used by the Londonbased, emergent entrepreneurial and merchant class. Printed materials spread this vernacular into areas where it was previously unknown and unused. The original choice of the print vernacular/language might have been free from a conscious consideration of powerrelations; however, not only did the print language gain prestige from being selected and spread, but it was also the language of those with money, power, and influence within the community as a whole, and could be seen to be so. Thus, those whose vernacular was adopted were placed at a considerable advantage in both practical usage and prestige terms in the wider print community.

The selected language then required codification and elaboration, aiming at a minimal variation and stability in linguistic form (e.g. one spelling for each word). This was undermined by nonstandard vernaculars. Meanwhile, elaboration required the language to perform all the functions of the lower prestige vernaculars it was starting to overwhelm. To achieve this, it

could borrow from them.

Finally, Haugen says, the key to the overall process of successful language standardization was, and in areas where it is a continuing process today is, acceptance whereby the standardized form can be easily implemented and maintained without challenge from another vernacular.

Milroy, J. and Milroy, L.(1991): Authority in Language: investigating language standardization and prescription. Routledge, London.

Anderson, B. (1991): Imagined Communities: Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. Verso, London. (Revised and extended edition)

Haugen, E. (1966/1972): “Dialect,Language, Nation” reprinted in Pride and Holmes, J.(eds.) Sociolinguistics. Penguin, London.