ABSOLUTE FREEDOM VERSUS RULES OR THE NEED TO STANDARDISE
“The term standardization is generally used within linguistics to refer to the process of bringing about a standard language. This process brings to a language a uniformity and consistent norm and form of writing and speaking, and the promotion of uniformity and consistency usually entails the reduction or elimination of variation. On a social level, the standard language is usually identified as the variety with highest prestige. Outside the linguistic community, the standard language—particularly the written mode—is usually considered an integral part of national (or supraregional) identity, being seen as the most widely used variety of the language, the official variety of the language, the national language, or even just as the language of that nation. The standard language is also seen as the most correct variety, what is called the “standard-bearing” component of standardization, which is its example-function that also paves the way to language purism. Linguists, however, usually see the standard variety of a particular language as one among many dialects of that language, and often find it difficult to define what the standard is, partly because it is generally held that “standard language” is an ideology rather than a concrete reality…” (https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199772810/obo-9780199772810-0250.xml)
Or to put it simply we could say: “Language standardization is the process by which conventional forms of a language are established and maintained. Standardization 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 variety as a standard. (https://www.google.com/search?q=language+standardisation&rlz=1C1CHBD_enMU962MU962&oq=&aqs=chrome.0.69i59i450l8.1023562j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8)
QUESTION 1
Should we promote a standard variety or simply let people speak the language the way they want?
Opinions differ but as a language planner and an educationist, rightly or wrongly, I am in favour of the building up of a standard national language to ensure universal functional literacy and numeracy in the Republic of Mauritius.
QUESTION 2
What does this entail?
First of all, we must have a good knowledge of the phonology and syntax of the language. Then, a study of the evolution of English, a very prestigious creole language, from a pidgin to a quasi-universal language is of great help. What has been the contribution of writers, especially Shakespeare? What is the relevance of the development of printing or the translation of the Bible? What has been the impact of the opening of schools all over the place and the teaching of the 3 RS – reading, writing and arithmetic – in the children’s mother tongue.
L1 creative writing; translation of major lay and religious classics; basic mother tongue literacy and numeracy at school are important ingredients of standardizasion.
QUESTION 3
Besides these objective considerations, are there not also some subjective considerations?
What appears more genuine and less la-di-da?
- Mo pe vini/ Mo pe vien. 2. Zordi mo res lakaz/Jourdwi mo rest lamaison. 3. Chombo, pa sap lor kal. / Besoin pran ou mal anpasians. 4. Elekter. / Electeur.
QUESTION 4
How can the printing and electronic media help?
Date: 20.02.22