2)The Norm of Language. Standard English.
(Arnold) She examines the problem of norm through distinguishing it from individual speech and the system of the language. Individual speech can be presented through the work of literature, author’s style, linguistic representation of the author’s image in fiction. To say that something is individual means to say that it is in some way different from the rest of similar works. Here we need a norm – a certain basis of comparison. Norm includes not only neutral literary standard, but also functional styles and dialects. The system of the language and the norm of the language are acquired through observation and through abstraction. In terms of modeling the system is an abstract model, a norm – static model, an individual speech- empirical material, which can be observed usually in a text. System of the language consists of phonetic, lexical, grammatical levels, they are all interconnected and their collocability is limited: elements of a lower level have limited collocability when making up the elements of the higher level. System defines only general possibility of using the language units, whereas a norm is something what is actually used, what is accepted, adopted and is comprehensible in a certain language community in the definite circumstances of communication. The norm of usage is established by the language community at every given period of time in the development of the language. So it changes, and what was earlier considered as a violation of the norm, now can be an actual norm. Correctness of the speech is defined not through the logical or etymological criteria but through the usage in the speech of educated native speakers. Speech depends on the situation and the aims of communication so its correctness is relative. Sometimes violation of some norms is very important because they tell the reader about circumstances of communication, mood and the state of the speaker.
A norm in a narrow sense is a literary standard. Orthology studies the norms of correct speech. Norms as a literary standard are maintained through the education, literature, government, church.
Language norms reflect typical usage of opportunities given by the system of the language which depend on the participants, sphere, conditions, situation and aim of communication.
The very existence of the norm presupposes the following oppositions (differential criteria can be geographical, social, biological (sex, age of the communicants) :
Structure: norm: individual speech
National norm: dialect
Neutral style: colloquial style: bookish style
Literary standard (correct speech): low colloquial speech.
Thus norm includes different subsystems of the realization of the structure. Norm points out traditional forms (but not necessarily correct) as besides literary norm there are other norms, for example dialect.
(Lecture) Standard English (SE) – the speech proper to the educated class. It is a historical category. National language goes hand in hand with the nation (the consolidation of the nation, 2nd half of the 13 century). The state demanded the national language (London an Southerner dialect). To write literature, to issue laws, for education, government and church – standard language was needed. At the end of the 18 century standard language was formed, it became fixed and regularized (before that spelling was irregular, grammar experimental, lexis uncertain (a lot of dialects). Samuel Johnson created the dictionary, which fixed meaning and later pronunciation), appeared grammar books (conformity of the use of the grammar rules). Language became the test of the culture; it could be understood through time and space by all people.
SE has the national scope and the national use. There is no resistance to the thought; thinking is made easier because the symbols are the same for the whole nation. It becomes the effective means of communication through education.
SE has become highly cultivated, subtle, and delicate. It has the widest currency , that is why unlike other forms it is considered to be good English. SE is correct English (grammar, pronunciation). SE – the standard of Oxford and public school language. SE has rich vocabulary, correct grammar. It stalls information. It has grown from social need and it serves the social need. It is universal, the language ideal, that has general usage and is universally received as to the range of its limits and variations. It is represented in the speech of educated people.
To be effective (to achieve the writer’s/speaker’s goal) the language must be appropriate to the material, time, place, audience aimed at, and impression of himself he wants to give. Thus, good English is SE, correct English, appropriate to a certain level of communication. SE – is a complex of functional styles, where a style – is a set of norms, which are generally used in traditional realization of the language, corresponding to the certain spheres of communication the function, which is necessary to realize.
Classifications:
Written, formal.
Spoken by educated class, Oxbridge English.
Modified by various regional and social influences, has little or no uniformity. Dialects.
Formal SE: written, used by highly educated people in formal situations, usually in monologues; it is precise, correct. Examples may be found in scholarly articles, formal letters and public addresses, technical scientific textbooks, poetry. It avoids contractions and colloquial expressions; style, grammar usage is generally conservative; wide and exact vocabulary; frequency is an important characterization of Formal English.
Informal SE : usually written or spoken by educated people; may be found in informal letters, business letters, most current novels, short stories and plays. Vocabulary and syntax are less formal and elaborate than in the formal SE. Sentences are shorter and simpler.
Colloquial SE: used in familiar and informal conversations; has short sentences, casual constructions and vocabulary of the everyday relaxed speech of educated people, colloquial expressions; it is personal and familiar in tone.
Non-standard E is used by people with little or no education, nearly always spoken, misuse of words, and corruption of what is now considered to be correct.