How does a language become standardized?


       Sociolinguistics is the study of the relationship between language structure and society structure. Sociolinguists in their researches found that there are varieties that are standardized while others are not. It is noticed that for any variety to become standardized, it should go thtough significant steps.
      Selection is a crucial criterion that may be based on to standardize a variety. Selection may rely on sacred books.For example in Arab world the official language is Arabic because it is the language of the holy quoran. It may also depend on the influencial center whether it is economic or politic or intelectual. We can mention that Paris is the economic and intelectual center, so its variety became the standardized language in France.
     Codification is another step of standardization process. It is necessary for any ambitious citizen to learn the correct forms and not use in writing any incorrect forms. That is to say that a variety should have its own alphabet, grammar rules, dictionaries and literary legacy in order to be fixed.
     For the varity selected to represent the desired norms, it must be able to fit a whole range of functions of life and be accepted by the majority of the community. The variety should be used in business, politic, economy, relegion and science, and this is how it might determine the community in terms of unity, identity, independence and freedom.


                                                     A.Manzar