• Linguistics and Language -> Sociolinguistics and Language Variation

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What is the process of standardization and how do languages become standardized?

Jody McComish

Standardization is the process of making something the same across all places so everyone can understand it. When it comes to language, standardization means making sure that everyone who speaks the same language uses the same words and rules for grammar. This makes it easier for people to communicate and understand each other.

When a language becomes standardized, it means that people have agreed on what words and letter combinations mean. They have also agreed on what the correct grammar is. This is important because it helps people communicate without confusion.

In order for a language to become standardized, it needs to have a lot of people using it. The more people who use a language, the more likely it is that the language will become standardized. One way that languages become standardized is by having a group of educated people, such as scholars, come together and decide on the rules for the language.

Other things that contribute to standardization include books, newspapers, and other media. These resources help to spread the language and the rules for it. Schools also play a big role in standardizing languages. Teachers make sure that students learn the correct grammar and usage of words.

Standardization can also happen naturally over time. As people use a language, they will naturally come to an agreement on what words and grammar are correct. This is why languages can change over time. For example, English has changed a lot over the past few hundred years. The way people spoke in Shakespeare's time is different from how people speak now.

In conclusion, standardization is important for languages so that people can communicate with each other easily. It happens when a lot of people use a language and agree on the rules for it. This can happen through education, media, and naturally over time.