Standard Language

Definition:
Standard language is the accepted form of a language used in formal communication,
education, literature, and official contexts within a particular community or region,
characterized by established grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and usage norms.

Types:
There are typically two main types of standard languages:

1. **National or Official Standard**: This type is recognized and promoted by

governmental bodies or language institutions as the standard for communication within
a nation or among speakers of a particular language worldwide. Examples include
Standard American English, Standard Mandarin Chinese, and Standard Arabic.

2. **Regional Standard**: Some languages have multiple standard forms that vary
based on geographical regions or countries. For instance, British English and American
English are both considered standard varieties, each with its own set of norms and
conventions. Similarly, European Portuguese and Brazilian Portuguese represent distinct
regional standards within the Portuguese language.

Examples:
Examples of standard languages include:

1. Standard American English

2. Standard British English

3. Standard Mandarin Chinese

4. Standard French (as spoken in France)

5. Standard Spanish (as spoken in Spain)

6. Standard Arabic

7. Standard German

8. Standard Italian

9. Standard Russian

10. Standard Japanese

Related Terms:
Related terms associated with standard language include:

1. Dialect: Regional or social varieties of a language that differ in pronunciation,

vocabulary, and grammar from the standard language.

2. Prestige dialect: A variety of a language that is associated with higher social status
and is often closer to the standard language in terms of grammar, vocabulary, and
pronunciation.

3. Register: Varieties of language used for specific purposes or in particular social

contexts, such as formal register for official communication and informal register for
casual conversation.

4. Linguistic prescription: Rules and norms established by language authorities or

institutions for correct usage of the standard language.
5. Language planning: Deliberate efforts by governments or language institutions to
regulate, standardize, or promote a particular variety of language for official or cultural
purposes.

6. Diglossia: Sociolinguistic situation where two distinct varieties of a language, such as a

standard variety and a vernacular variety, are used for different functions in a society.

7. Language standardization: The process by which a particular variety of language is

codified, regulated, and established as the standard for communication within a
community or region.

MCQs:
Sure, here are 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) about standard language, along
with their answers:

1. What is a standard language?

A) A language spoken by a majority of the population

B) A form of language officially recognized and used in formal contexts

C) A language spoken by a minority group

D) A language with no variation

Answer: B) A form of language officially recognized and used in formal contexts

2. Which of the following is an example of a standard language?

A) Spanglish

B) Cockney English
 C) Standard Mandarin Chinese

D) Southern American English

Answer: C) Standard Mandarin Chinese

3. What role does a standard language typically play in a society?

A) It is used only in informal communication.

B) It is considered inferior to other varieties of the language.

C) It is the form of language used in formal communication and education.

D) It is only spoken by linguistic experts.

Answer: C) It is the form of language used in formal communication and education.

4. Who often regulates the norms and rules of a standard language?

A) Language learners

B) Language teachers

C) Governmental bodies or language institutions

D) Linguistic enthusiasts

Answer: C) Governmental bodies or language institutions

5. Which term refers to the varieties of language used for specific purposes or in
particular social contexts?
 A) Vernacular

B) Dialect

C) Register

D) Slang

Answer: C) Register

6. What is the term for the sociolinguistic situation where two distinct varieties of a
language are used for different functions in a society?

A) Bilingualism

B) Standardization

C) Diglossia

D) Multilingualism

Answer: C) Diglossia

7. Which type of standard language is recognized and promoted by governmental

bodies or language institutions?

A) National or Official Standard

B) Regional Standard

C) International Standard

D) Prestige Standard

Answer: A) National or Official Standard

8. What is the purpose of linguistic prescription?

A) To describe how language is used in practice

B) To prescribe the correct usage of the standard language

C) To promote the use of regional dialects

D) To study historical language changes

Answer: B) To prescribe the correct usage of the standard language

9. Which of the following terms refers to varieties of a language associated with higher
social status?

A) Vernacular

B) Prestige dialect

C) Slang

D) Jargon

Answer: B) Prestige dialect

10. What is language planning?

A) The study of language acquisition

B) Efforts to regulate, standardize, or promote a particular variety of language

C) The process of inventing new words

D) The process of translating languages

 Answer: B) Efforts to regulate, standardize, or promote a particular variety of
language

11. Which term describes the process by which a particular variety of language is
codified, regulated, and established as the standard?

A) Language variation

B) Language planning

C) Language standardization

D) Language acquisition

Answer: C) Language standardization

12. Which of the following is NOT an example of a standard language?

A) Standard Arabic

B) Standard British English

C) Standard Indian English

D) Vernacular Jamaican English

Answer: D) Vernacular Jamaican English

13. What is the primary function of a standard language?

A) To maintain cultural identity

B) To facilitate communication within a community

 C) To exclude certain groups from society

D) To preserve historical language forms

Answer: B) To facilitate communication within a community

14. Which term refers to the formal variety of a language used in literature, media,
government, and business?

A) Vernacular

B) Standard language

C) Jargon

D) Slang

Answer: B) Standard language

15. What role do language academies often play in relation to standard language?

A) Promoting regional dialects

B) Regulating and codifying standard language norms

C) Teaching language learners

D) Studying language acquisition

Answer: B) Regulating and codifying standard language norms

16. What linguistic phenomenon does the term "code-switching" refer to?
 A) The use of multiple languages in conversation

B) The adaptation of language to a specific register

C) The evolution of language over time

D) The spread of language through globalization

Answer: A) The use of multiple languages in conversation

17. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of standard language?

A) Established grammar and vocabulary norms

B) Pronunciation consistent across regions

C) Usage in formal contexts

D) Regulation by language authorities

Answer: B) Pronunciation consistent across regions

18. What is the term for the official institutions that regulate and promote a standard
language?

A) Language academies

B) Language guilds

C) Language coalitions

D) Language assemblies

Answer: A) Language academies

19. What role does a prestige dialect typically play in relation to standard language?

A) It is considered inferior and incorrect.

B) It is the standard form of the language.

C) It serves as a reference point for linguistic correctness.

D) It is spoken only by a small group of elites.

Answer: C) It serves as a reference point for linguistic correctness.

20. In which situations is standard language primarily used?

A) Informal social gatherings

B) Educational institutions and formal communication

C) Regional dialects and slang

D) Creative writing and artistic expression

Answer: B) Educational institutions and formal communication