Eduqas A-Level English Language: Standard and Non-
Standard English
Standard English and Standardisation
Standard English (SE) is the variety of English that provides a unified means
of communication and is widely accepted as the ‘correct’ form. It is widely
recognised and understood and is often preferred in formal contexts, such as
law, politics, government, and official publication, granting its users greater
authority and credibility in professional contexts.
A speaker can use Standard English with any accent (e.g. Scouse, Yorkshire,
Welsh or Received Pronunciation), as SE refers to grammar, vocabulary, and
spelling rather than pronunciation.
Standard English developed primarily from the East Midlands dialect, particularly
the variety used in London, rather than originating from a single dialect alone.
Due to London being the centre of economic and political power in England and
Oxford and Cambridge being home to two of the oldest and most prestigious
universities in the world, they have historically been associated with wealth,
knowledge, influence, and power. The use of SE in these areas, especially by the
educated and elite, has contributed to the elevated status of the dialect in
modern contexts.
Non-standard English is any variety of English that does not conform to the
norm. It represents regional and social varieties that are linguistically different,
with variations in vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. It is mostly used in informal
contexts, such as friendly conversations and private text messages, where slang
and colloquialisms are acceptable.
Standardisation is the process by which one dialect becomes dominant over
others through the process of establishing a uniform set of linguistic conventions
to produce a single standard variety, minimising linguistic variation.
Factors Influencing Standardisation:
Caxton’s The printing press was introduced to England in 1476
Printing Press by William Caxton. For his printing press, Caxton
used the East Midlands dialect, specifically the
variation spoken and written in London.
The printing press required consistent spelling and
grammar for efficiency and once words appeared in
print, English orthography became more fixed,
reducing regional variation in texts.
This mass production of books meant that literature
became more affordable, accessible, and
widespread, allowing SE to spread rapidly and
quickly gain national prominence.
Samuel Samuel Johnson's 'A Dictionary of the English
Johnson’s Language' (1755) was the first widely influential
Dictionary attempt to standardise English spelling and usage.
, It set a standard for spelling conventions, reducing
variation and inconsistencies by simplifying and
codifying the English language.
It also shaped prescriptivist attitudes towards
language by promoting SE as the 'correct' literary
form, causing many non-standard forms to be
rejected or undervalued in professional settings.
The British The British Empire lasted for nearly 400 years and at
Empire its peak in the 1920s, it governed approximately a
quarter of the world’s population. This contributed to
the global spread of English through colonialism, as
members of the British Empire often imposed Se
through education and administration across many
colonies.
This positioned SE as a tool of power, as it became a
marker of social class and moral character.
SE was exported through law, administration, and
education.
Prescriptivism
Prescriptivism is the belief that there is one ‘correct’ variety and use of language
that should be taught and upheld. It advocates for adherence to rules on
language use and establishes Standard English as the ‘correct’ form of English,
while deeming non-standard English as ‘incorrect’.
Reasons for Prescriptivism:
Prescriptivism helps to maintain social mobility by providing a clear
linguistic framework for success.
SE is often associated with professionalism and credibility meaning that
individuals who master it can gain access to greater opportunities in
education and the workplace.
SE is useful in educational institutions as students can be taught the same
curriculum across the country, ensuring fair testing.
SE plays a significant role in communication as it provides clarity,
consistency, and mutual understanding. Also, learning one standard
variety and applying it to professional settings can reduce
misunderstanding in educational settings or the workplace.
Grammar rules and spelling conventions preserve coherence over time,
preventing English from becoming fragmented into mutually unintelligible
dialects.
It is useful for people learning a language for the first time, as it is widely
understood and reduces confusion from local slang or strong regional
accents.
Reasons Against Prescriptivism:
By treating SE as the only correct variety, this reinforces elitism and
classism by associating one form of English with success and
Standard English
Standard English and Standardisation
Standard English (SE) is the variety of English that provides a unified means
of communication and is widely accepted as the ‘correct’ form. It is widely
recognised and understood and is often preferred in formal contexts, such as
law, politics, government, and official publication, granting its users greater
authority and credibility in professional contexts.
A speaker can use Standard English with any accent (e.g. Scouse, Yorkshire,
Welsh or Received Pronunciation), as SE refers to grammar, vocabulary, and
spelling rather than pronunciation.
Standard English developed primarily from the East Midlands dialect, particularly
the variety used in London, rather than originating from a single dialect alone.
Due to London being the centre of economic and political power in England and
Oxford and Cambridge being home to two of the oldest and most prestigious
universities in the world, they have historically been associated with wealth,
knowledge, influence, and power. The use of SE in these areas, especially by the
educated and elite, has contributed to the elevated status of the dialect in
modern contexts.
Non-standard English is any variety of English that does not conform to the
norm. It represents regional and social varieties that are linguistically different,
with variations in vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. It is mostly used in informal
contexts, such as friendly conversations and private text messages, where slang
and colloquialisms are acceptable.
Standardisation is the process by which one dialect becomes dominant over
others through the process of establishing a uniform set of linguistic conventions
to produce a single standard variety, minimising linguistic variation.
Factors Influencing Standardisation:
Caxton’s The printing press was introduced to England in 1476
Printing Press by William Caxton. For his printing press, Caxton
used the East Midlands dialect, specifically the
variation spoken and written in London.
The printing press required consistent spelling and
grammar for efficiency and once words appeared in
print, English orthography became more fixed,
reducing regional variation in texts.
This mass production of books meant that literature
became more affordable, accessible, and
widespread, allowing SE to spread rapidly and
quickly gain national prominence.
Samuel Samuel Johnson's 'A Dictionary of the English
Johnson’s Language' (1755) was the first widely influential
Dictionary attempt to standardise English spelling and usage.
, It set a standard for spelling conventions, reducing
variation and inconsistencies by simplifying and
codifying the English language.
It also shaped prescriptivist attitudes towards
language by promoting SE as the 'correct' literary
form, causing many non-standard forms to be
rejected or undervalued in professional settings.
The British The British Empire lasted for nearly 400 years and at
Empire its peak in the 1920s, it governed approximately a
quarter of the world’s population. This contributed to
the global spread of English through colonialism, as
members of the British Empire often imposed Se
through education and administration across many
colonies.
This positioned SE as a tool of power, as it became a
marker of social class and moral character.
SE was exported through law, administration, and
education.
Prescriptivism
Prescriptivism is the belief that there is one ‘correct’ variety and use of language
that should be taught and upheld. It advocates for adherence to rules on
language use and establishes Standard English as the ‘correct’ form of English,
while deeming non-standard English as ‘incorrect’.
Reasons for Prescriptivism:
Prescriptivism helps to maintain social mobility by providing a clear
linguistic framework for success.
SE is often associated with professionalism and credibility meaning that
individuals who master it can gain access to greater opportunities in
education and the workplace.
SE is useful in educational institutions as students can be taught the same
curriculum across the country, ensuring fair testing.
SE plays a significant role in communication as it provides clarity,
consistency, and mutual understanding. Also, learning one standard
variety and applying it to professional settings can reduce
misunderstanding in educational settings or the workplace.
Grammar rules and spelling conventions preserve coherence over time,
preventing English from becoming fragmented into mutually unintelligible
dialects.
It is useful for people learning a language for the first time, as it is widely
understood and reduces confusion from local slang or strong regional
accents.
Reasons Against Prescriptivism:
By treating SE as the only correct variety, this reinforces elitism and
classism by associating one form of English with success and
