Standard Englishes

Basically, these are the kinds of English that everyone agrees are the “proper” or “correct” way to speak and write when it comes to formal situations or in education in the place where they live. The standards are taught in schools as the “gold standard” for communication. All the standards are very very close to each other, differing sometimes in spelling and vocabulary, but never in grammar.

All the standards are spoken in areas that have regional, non-standard varieties, such as the many regional dialects in Britain and the US. The non-standard varieties can have influence on the local Standards; however, not in the highest formal or academic use.

One prime example of a standard English is Received Pronunciation (RP), which was formally the “must-have” accent for the British upper class peers. This accent used to be commonly heard on the BBC News, and still is among many highly educated British people. However, it is no longer spoken by the British Upper Classes, who now speak “posh” English, the Queen’s English. RP isn’t the only standard in Britain – there is Educated British, northern Standard British, Standard Scottish and Standard Northern Irish. The US has its own standards too, like General American, Midwestern Standard, Southern Standard, and Northeastern Standard. Each one’s got its own small set of unique features, generally pronunciation and vocabulary, but all are recognized as “proper” ways to communicate – and generally the differences are not noticed by Americans themselves.

So, why’s all this important? Well, having standard helps us avoid miscommunication in professional settings and beyond. Whether you’re doing a job interview or just trying to make small talk with someone new, knowing the norms of Standard English – and the different norms of different Standard Englishes – can help you connect with others and build stronger relationships.