This document discusses how national identity is expressed through language and how one standard language variety is selected and promoted within a national educational system and protected through official means. This standard language then serves to distinguish insiders from outsiders. It notes that standard languages are artificially constructed from the many dialects spoken in a country and imposed as the national code. The document also discusses how languages take on symbolic value beyond practical use and become totems for cultural groups. It mentions how the dominance of one language over others can occur through deliberate political and cultural pressure, with examples given of English dominance in some contexts.

2.  The way national identity is expressed
 Created from a multiplicity of dialects
 One variety of language is selected/ taught in national
educational systems/ protected by official grammars &
dictionaries.
 It is selected as an indicator of insiders & outsiders
In other words STANDARD LANGUAGE is Artificially
conventional from a multiplicity of dialects spoken within a
national community and impose as the national code.

3. E.g. Ancient Greeks, any person whose language was not Greek
was called Barbarian. An alien from an inferior culture.
 It denote any use of language that offends contemporary
standards of correctness.
 National Academies work for preservation of the national
linguistic treasure.
 Misuse of standard language considered a moral offence/ e.g.
‘butchering’ or ‘slaughtering’ a language.
In others words It is a violation of the standard language but not
fully competent speakers of the language.( from Geek Babaros:
outsider)

4.  Language acquires a symbolic value beyond its pragmatic use
and becomes a totem of a cultural group.
 Exercise of national or colonial power, when one language is
imposed over others.( deliberate, centralized pressure of a
melting ideology)
E.g. English over Spanish in New Mexico/ spread of English as an
international language
 Totemization of the dominant language leads to the
stigmatization of the dominated languages.

5. Kramsh( 1998,pag. 74) Language and Culture. University of
Oxford. Oxford University Press. New York – USA. 1st edition.

6. Thank you