ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the process by which certain language forms and patterns become codified as acceptable according to prescriptive norms, while others are rejected as unacceptable or nonstandard. It examines how these language norms evolve and change over time, and the effects they can have when they are used to judge language performance. The chapter discusses the role of new modalities such as social media on language norms. It shows that language norms have shifted over time, both the implicit norms that linguists uncover and the explicit norms of language prescription. Because of the ramifications for student, teacher, and school evaluations, standardized testing is perhaps the most ominous form of externally imposed language norms influencing the classroom. The chapter concludes by focusing on the specialized language norms found in school contexts and suggesting again that educators take an active role in understanding the effects of these norms on their students.