Codification
In a nutshell
Codification is the process through which a dominant dialect becomes the standard or "norm" of a language. In the case of English, the London Midlands dialect became the dominant dialect used for language instruction – and so, with the publication of dictionaries and grammars of English, the English language began its process of codification. In this summary, you will learn the history of English language codification up to the present day, as well as how codification interacts with language change.
History of the codification of English
As early as the 16th century, English grammarians published seminal works that were to be taught in schools for centuries, such as William Lily's A Shorte Introduction of Grammar (1523). This was actually a grammar of Latin, but the understanding and education of English grammar developed in parallel to Latin rules of grammar – a trend that continues to this day.
In the 18th century, the publication of dictionaries such as Samuel Johnson's "A Dictionary of the English Language" helped to establish a standard for English spelling and vocabulary. These dictionaries became widely used as reference works and helped to establish a sense of order and consistency in the English language.
Another important development in the codification of English was the emergence of grammar books and usage guides. These works provided guidance on how to use English "correctly" and helped to establish rules for grammar and syntax. One of the most influential of these works was "A Grammar of the English Tongue", also by Samuel Johnson and "English Grammar" by Lindley Murray. These were both widely used as reference works for many years.
Although language academies like those of France and Italy were never established to codify English, in the 20th century, the codification of English continued with the development of various style guides and the establishment of organisations such as the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological Association (APA). These organisations have established guidelines for the use of English in academic and professional contexts and have helped to ensure that English is used consistently and correctly.
Lexicography and semantic change
Lexicography is the process of compiling dictionaries. Lexicographers must collect and define words and the relationships between them. They also keep in mind the etymology (history) of words, their grammatical forms and their pronunciation.
Lexicography is a constant process due to all language being in a state of constant flux. In this way, lexicographers must ensure their dictionaries are kept up to date.
Below is a list of semantic changes that may occur and be documented, as well as an example for each:
Process
| Example
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| Amelioration – a word adopts a positive meaning
| The word "nice" used to mean "silly" or "foolish," but over time it has undergone amelioration and now means "pleasing" or "agreeable."
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| Pejoration – a word adopts negative connotations
| The word "savage" was originally used to describe a member of an uncivilised tribe, but over time it has undergone pejoration and now carries connotations of cruelty and ferocity.
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| Weakening – a word loses the strength of its original meaning
| The word "awful" used to mean "inspiring awe," but over time it has undergone weakening and now means "very bad."
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| Narrowing – a word becomes more specific in meaning
| The word "meat" used to mean any type of food, but over time it has undergone narrowing and now refers specifically to animal flesh.
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| Broadening – a word retains its original meaning and gains other meanings
| The word "awesome" used to mean "inspiring awe," but over time it has undergone broadening and now can also mean "very good."
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