Codification (linguistics)
Encyclopedia
In linguistics
, codification is the process of standardizing
and developing a norm for a language.
Codifying a language can vary from case to case and depends on the stage of standardization that already exists. It typically means to develop a writing system
, set up official rules for grammar
, orthography
, pronunciation
, syntax
and vocabulary
as well as publishing grammar books, dictionaries
and similar guidelines. Several variants exisit for a specific aspect, e.g. different ways of spelling a word, decisions on which variant is going to be the standard one have to be made.
In some countries such codification is done by a body constituted by the state, such as the French Academy. Codification often happens due to new inventions, changes in values or other cultural influences. After the process of decolonialization, many Africa
n states had to decide whether they wanted to keep the colonial language or chose one (or more) of their indigenous language varieties as official languages, which made language planning
necessary.
In a well-known model of language planning by Einar Haugen
, codification is only the second step. Step one is the selection process, step three is the elaboration of vocabulary (especially technical terms) and step four the implementation of the changes in society. In the process of language planning, two major levels exist: corpus planning and status planning (Heinz Kloss
). Codification is part of the corpus planning of a language, because the "body" of the language itself is being planned as opposed to status planning, where the prestige and usage of a language is enhanced:
Whether the codification is successful depends heavily on its acceptance by the population as well as its form of implementation by the government, e.g. promoting its prestige and spread, teaching the norm in school and language courses, and so on.
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
, codification is the process of standardizing
Standard language
A standard language is a language variety used by a group of people in their public discourse. Alternatively, varieties become standard by undergoing a process of standardization, during which it is organized for description in grammars and dictionaries and encoded in such reference works...
and developing a norm for a language.
Codifying a language can vary from case to case and depends on the stage of standardization that already exists. It typically means to develop a writing system
Writing system
A writing system is a symbolic system used to represent elements or statements expressible in language.-General properties:Writing systems are distinguished from other possible symbolic communication systems in that the reader must usually understand something of the associated spoken language to...
, set up official rules for grammar
Grammar
In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules that govern the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language. The term refers also to the study of such rules, and this field includes morphology, syntax, and phonology, often complemented by phonetics, semantics,...
, orthography
Orthography
The orthography of a language specifies a standardized way of using a specific writing system to write the language. Where more than one writing system is used for a language, for example Kurdish, Uyghur, Serbian or Inuktitut, there can be more than one orthography...
, pronunciation
Pronunciation
Pronunciation refers to the way a word or a language is spoken, or the manner in which someone utters a word. If one is said to have "correct pronunciation", then it refers to both within a particular dialect....
, syntax
Syntax
In linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing phrases and sentences in natural languages....
and vocabulary
Vocabulary
A person's vocabulary is the set of words within a language that are familiar to that person. A vocabulary usually develops with age, and serves as a useful and fundamental tool for communication and acquiring knowledge...
as well as publishing grammar books, dictionaries
Dictionary
A dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
and similar guidelines. Several variants exisit for a specific aspect, e.g. different ways of spelling a word, decisions on which variant is going to be the standard one have to be made.
In some countries such codification is done by a body constituted by the state, such as the French Academy. Codification often happens due to new inventions, changes in values or other cultural influences. After the process of decolonialization, many Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n states had to decide whether they wanted to keep the colonial language or chose one (or more) of their indigenous language varieties as official languages, which made language planning
Language planning
Language planning is a deliberate effort to influence the function, structure, or acquisition of languages or language variety within a speech community. It is often associated with government planning, but is also used by a variety of non-governmental organizations, such as grass-roots...
necessary.
In a well-known model of language planning by Einar Haugen
Einar Haugen
Einar Ingvald Haugen was an American linguist, author and Professor at University of Wisconsin–Madison and Harvard University.-Biography:Haugen was born in Sioux City, Iowa to Norwegians from the town of Oppdal in Norway. When he was a young child, the family moved back to Oppdal for a few years,...
, codification is only the second step. Step one is the selection process, step three is the elaboration of vocabulary (especially technical terms) and step four the implementation of the changes in society. In the process of language planning, two major levels exist: corpus planning and status planning (Heinz Kloss
Heinz Kloss
Heinz Kloss was a German linguist and internationally recognised authority on linguistic minorities....
). Codification is part of the corpus planning of a language, because the "body" of the language itself is being planned as opposed to status planning, where the prestige and usage of a language is enhanced:
- Corpus planning: Codification of a language (step 2); elaboration of vocabulary (step 3)
- Status planning: Selection of a language (step 1); securing its acceptance (step 4)
Whether the codification is successful depends heavily on its acceptance by the population as well as its form of implementation by the government, e.g. promoting its prestige and spread, teaching the norm in school and language courses, and so on.
Further reading
- Arntz, Reiner (1998): Das vielsprachige Europa: eine Herausforderung für Sprachpolitik und Sprachplanung. Hildesheim: Hildesheimer Universitätsbibliothek.
- Coulmas, F. (1985): Sprache und Staat. Studien zur Sprachplanung und Sprachpolitik. New York: de Gruyter.
- Mesthrie, R. Et al. (2000): Introducing Sociolinguistics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 384-418.