Standardisation of written English
Standardisation was well under way by 1650. By standardising English, it makes life much easier.
Steps to standardising English:
1) A particular variety of language is selected. This is generally the dialect that is used by the highest status social group such as the rulers.
2) The variety chosen becomes the dialect which is used in literature, law and courts, education, administration and business.
3) This then becomes 'codified' - it becomes described and defined using grammar books, dictionaries and spelling lists. This makes it more stable and less likely to change.
The standard form of English was largely created from the dialects of the Oxford, Cambridge and London regions. The growth of this standard form was reinforced by the printing press in 1476.
These publications codified the language and standardisation rapidly increased, meaning that around 1750, English had finally become relatively standard, and spelling was less of a free for all.
The 18th Century is characterised by greater emphasis on standardisation and prescriptivism.
Steps to standardising English:
1) A particular variety of language is selected. This is generally the dialect that is used by the highest status social group such as the rulers.
2) The variety chosen becomes the dialect which is used in literature, law and courts, education, administration and business.
3) This then becomes 'codified' - it becomes described and defined using grammar books, dictionaries and spelling lists. This makes it more stable and less likely to change.
The standard form of English was largely created from the dialects of the Oxford, Cambridge and London regions. The growth of this standard form was reinforced by the printing press in 1476.
- 1755= Dr Johnson's Dictionary was published
- 1762= Dr Lowth's 'A short introduction to English Grammar’
These publications codified the language and standardisation rapidly increased, meaning that around 1750, English had finally become relatively standard, and spelling was less of a free for all.
The 18th Century is characterised by greater emphasis on standardisation and prescriptivism.