There’s No Such Thing as Standard English

The notion of a singular “Standard English” is a myth. In reality, there are many Standard Englishes, each with their own distinct characteristics and features. Across the Anglosphere, wherever English is used formally, there exists a Standardized English that serves as the dominant variety of language for professional and academic purposes. For instance, Scottish Standard English, Standard American English, and Nigerian Standard English are all examples of standardized forms that have emerged to meet the needs of their respective communities.

Standard English is a social variety of language that is predominantly used in writing and is generally constructed through the removal of idiosyncrasies and shibboleths often associated with race and class. While standardization has a particular use, it is essential to recognize that Standard English is not a superior kind of language; it is simply a tool of communication. For example, Standard Irish English and Standard Singaporean English perform the same functions: they allow speakers to communicate more clearly in certain situations and media formats.

Though they fill the same role for speakers, the particular features of Standard Englishes differ significantly – for example, in Standard American English, saying “they are wanting something” is incorrect, whereas in Standard Scottish English, this phrasing is acceptable. In Standard Singapore English nouns like”staff” and “luggage” are considered countable, while in Standard Australian English they are not.

Multidialectalism is a form of multilingualism: learning a Standard English is merely adding another tool to one’s linguistic repertoire, and should be treated only as a set of language skills to be acquired. Standard English should not be wielded as a tool to criticize or demean individuals. Language skills should be taught through acquisition, not assimilation, allowing individuals to develop their unique linguistic profiles and identities without stigmatising language use or forcing certain demographics to abandon their natural speech patterns.