The Idea of the Native Speaker

In order to address the idea of the native speaker, and to understand what significance this idea holds in relation to individuals and institutions within contemporary and future communities, it is essential to first piece together the interwoven beliefs, ideologies and developments prevailing in discussions of linguistic theory, language use and the position of the individual. The push for linguistics to be considered a science holds several implications for the marginalization of individual speakers and the relevance and status of the native speaker. Although the term "native speaker" was undoubtedly intended to transmit positive connotations, with reference to the corruption of desired language standards, the native speaker was by no means excused from blame and responsibility. Debates concerning linguistics as a science concerned with an object of study, the role of the human informant and the position of the native speaker in relation to standard language and appropriate grammar were revolutionized during the 1950s.