The Rise of Standard English Flashcards
Important event that promoted the need for a unified written language
The arrival of the printing press by William Caxton in 1476.
This allowed multiple copies of the same book to be distributed.
Motivated efforts to develop a standardized writing system.
True or false
Standard languages do not evolve as a result of any natural internal development.
They are deliberately engineered and promoted.
Steps of standardization
- Selection of a variety
- Elaboration of function
- Codification
- Acceptance
Which variety was selected for standard English?
Chancery English was selected.
This was the written English that was used in state documents produced at the Exchequer in Westminster.
Other important influences
- Early London dialect
- Later London dialect containing features of immigrant groups.
- Dialect used by priests who distributed the Bible.
Prescriptive ideologies
Ideologies or ways of thinking of language
In the 18th century, there was an aggressive rise of ideologies about the way language should be used.
Example of prescriptive ideologies
Ex. Colley Lane Primary School wrote down a list of the top ten most damaging phrases by children.
- “they was”
- “gonna”
- “I ain’t”
Industrial Revolution
It brought with it a growth in urbanization and an increase in social mobility. Then arose a connection between social class and language.
Public imagination
Proper English became increasingly associated with being cultivated, refined, and educated speech.
Samuel Johnson
The author of an English Dictionary.
He thought English was without rules and without order.
What models do grammarians appeal to?
- Classical languages (Latin, Greek)
2. Logic
Link to Latin
Many of the rules imposed on English are inspired by Latin.
If Latin doesn’t do it, English shouldn’t.
Ex. “To boldly go” is impossible in Latin so it was controversial when English did it.
Ex. Double negatives
