Standardisation
The process by which a language variety becomes codified, accepted as a norm, and used in formal institutions, gradually reducing variation and establishing conventions of grammar, spelling, and pronunciation.
Real World
The BBC's founding Director-General, John Reith, imposed Received Pronunciation as the broadcast standard in the 1920s, institutionalising one accent as authoritative across the entire nation.
Exam Focus
Frame standardisation as a socio-political process, not just a linguistic one — examiners reward awareness that selecting a standard empowers certain speakers over others.
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