A standard language or standard variety may be defined either as a language variety used by a

population for public purposes or as a variety that has undergone standardization. Typically, varieties
that become standardized are the local dialects spoken in the centers of commerce and government,
where a need arises for a variety that will serve more than local needs. Standardization typically involves
a fixed orthography, codification in authoritative grammars and dictionaries and public acceptance of
these standards. A standard written language is sometimes termed by the German word Schriftsprache.

A pluricentric language has multiple interacting standard varieties. Examples include English, French,
Portuguese, German, Korean, Spanish, Swedish, Armenian and Chinese. Monocentric languages, such as
Russian and Japanese, have only one standardized version.

A standard variety is developed from a group of related varieties. This may be done by elevating a single
variety, such as the local variety of a center of government or culture. Alternatively, a new variety may
be defined as a selection of features from existing varieties. A fixed orthography is typically created for
writing the variety. It may be codified in normative dictionaries and grammars, or by an agreed
collection of exemplary texts. Whether these dictionaries and grammars are created by private
individuals (like Webster's Dictionary) or by state institutions, they become standard if they are treated
as authorities for correcting language. A fixed written form and subsequent codification make the
standard variety more stable than purely spoken varieties, and provide a base for further development
or ausbau. This variety becomes the norm for writing, is used in broadcasting and for official purposes,
and is the form taught to non-native learners.

Through this process, the standard variety acquires prestige and a greater functional importance than
local varieties. Those varieties are said to be dependent on, or heteronomous with respect to, the
standard variety, because speakers read and write the standard, refer to it as an authority is such
matters as specialist vocabulary, and any standardizing changes in their speech are towards that
standard. In some cases, such as Standard English, this process may take place over an extended period
without government intervention. In others it may be deliberately directed by official institutions, such
as the Académie française or Real Academia Española, and can proceed much more quickly.

Language standardization is often linked to the formation, or attempted formation, of nation states, as
language is seen as the vehicle of a shared culture. Different national standards derived from a dialect
continuum may be regarded as different languages, even if they are mutually intelligible. The
Scandinavian languages, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish, are often cited as examples.

In other cases governments or neighbouring populations may seek to deny a standard independent
status. In response, developers of a standard may base it on more divergent varieties. Thus after Norway
became independent at the start of the 20th century, the Bokmål standard based on the speech of Oslo
was felt to be too similar to Danish by Ivar Aasen, who developed a rival Nynorsk standard based on
western varieties. Similarly, when a standard was developed in the Yugoslav republic of Macedonia from
local varieties within a continuum with Serbia to the north and Bulgaria to the east, it was deliberately
based on varieties from the west of the republic that were most different from standard Bulgarian. Now
known as Macedonian, it is the national standard of the independent Republic of Macedonia, but
viewed by Bulgarians as a dialect of Bulgarian.

Non-standard Language

The term nonstandard was originally used by linguists to refer to language varieties that had previously
been labeled with terms such as vulgar.

Non standard English differs from Standard English at the level of grammar (it does not follow the
grammar or pronunciation rules of standard language).

Varieties, Dialects and Idiolects

The term language variety is used among linguistcs as a cover term to refer to many different types of
language variation. The term may be used in reference to a distinct language such as Italian or French, or
in reference to a particular form of a language spoken by a specific group of people such as Appalachian
English, or even in reference to the speech of a single person.

When a group of speakers of particular language differs noticeably in its speech from another group we
say that they are speaking dialects. It is any variety of a language spoken by a group of people that is
characterized by systematic differences from other varieties of the same language in terms of structural
or lexical features.

The appropriate term for systematics phonological variation is accent. It is often used in reference to
foreign accent or regionally defined accents such as southern or northern accents.

The form of a language spoken by one person is known as an idiolect. One criterion used to distinguish
dialects from languages is mutual intelligibility. If a speaker of one language variety can understand
speakers of another language variety and vice versa, we say that this variety are mutually intelligible.

Language standardization is the process by which conventional forms of a language are established and
maintained. It is the process of development of a standard for written and /or oral language. It may
occur as a natural development of a language in a speech community or as an effort by members of a
community to impose one dialect or varieties as a standard. At a certain point usually there is a
perspective effort to develop a standard.
Functions of Standardization

1.Unifying function : this is the function of a standard language to serve as a unifying bond in spite of
dialectal and other differences.

2. Separatist function: this is the function of a standard language to affirm the separate identity of a
speech community in the face of other speech communities.

3. Prestige function: this is function that confers a certain prestige on a speech community that
possesses a standard language and on an individual that masters it.

4. Participatory function: Function by which a speech community use its own language to participate in
the cultural, scientific and other developments of the modern world.

5. Frame of reference function: this is the function of a standard language to serve as a frame of
reference primarily in matters of language correctness but also in other respects.

It unifies individuals and groups within a larger community while at the same time separating the
community that results from other communities.

Therefore, it can be employed to reflect and symbolize some kind of density: regional, social, ethnic, or
religious. The standardization process itself performs a variety of functions. Standard English and
Standard French are such goals for many whose norms are dialects of these languages.

Standardization Process
Standardization refers to the process by which a language has Been codified in some way.

That process usually involves the development of such things as grammars, spelling books, and
dictionaries, and possibly a literature.

We can often associate specific items or events with standardization , e.g., Wycliffe’s and Luther's
translations of the bible into English and German, respectively, Caxton's
establishment of printing in England, and Dr. Johnson's dictionary of English published in 1755.

Standardization also requires that a measure of agreement be achieved about what is in the language
and what is not.
 The standardization process

Elaboration of
selection codification acceptance
function

Standardization or standardization is a process that takes place in stages; was not completely finished. 

Standardization is also an attitude (attitude)towards a variety of

language communities, and we know from social psychology that people's attitudes will always
proceeds not for a moment.

In essence it
undergoes standardization process stages: (1) Selection
(selection), (2) Codification (Codification), (3) translation function(elaboration of function), (4) Approval 
(acceptance) (Alwasilah, 1990).

Selection

It is the first step of standardization. One particular variation or dialect selected and further developed

to be used as the standard language. The selected variety may be an existing one used in an important
political or commercial centre or it could a mixture of various varieties. It may also be one with no native
speaker at all. for example, Bahasa Malaysia(BM) in Malaysia.
The variety necessarily gains prestige and hence the people already speaking /sharing it with prestige.

Codification
Codification means that some agency such as an academy for example, Bangla Academy in Bangladesh
has to compose dictionaries and grammar books in order to codify the already selected variety as a
norm so that everybody agrees on what is correct. It imposed a code or rules of language to be the
norm in the community language. Usually designated agency makes a dictionary to be used as a
reference codification. After codification is completed, it is essential for any ambitious citizen to learn
the correct form and avoid using in writing any incorrect forms available in his/her own variety.

Elaborations of Functions

In this third step, the chosen variety for standardization is used in various functions such as in formal
and legal writings, giving speeches, etc and in the process starting to be used by the government. This is
the final stage in the process of language standardization. 

In the end this diversity of languages must be approved by the speech-community

members as their national language. 

When it came to this stage, then the default language that has the power to unite the nation and a
symbol of the country's independence and the distinguishing feature from other countries.
Process of extending the language into new domains such as academics, medicine, or some other field.

Elaboration of function refers to the autonomy of the standardized variety to be used in several fields
such as

The parliament

Law court

Different bureaucratic documents

Educational institutions

Electronic media and printing press

Taught to non-native speakers/ foreigners

Various genres of literature and so forth

What is codified is not going to socialize without any translation (elaboration) that has a standard range
of functions

Acceptance

This is the final stage in the process of language standardization. In the end this diversity of languages 
must be approved by the speech-community members as their national language. When it came to this
stage, then the default language that has the power to unite the nation and a symbol of the country's
independence and the distinguishing feature from other countries.

Conclusion
Standardization process is the process by which conventional forms of a language are established and
maintained. A natural development of a standard language in a speech community or an attempt by
community to impose one dialect as standard. Every language has its standard variety. The standard
variety is associated with the highest authority.