On A Model of Social Forces Acting on the Language Standard

This paper deals with the social forces working on the language standard. The model presented in the following text is mainly based on U. Ammon's sociolinguistic researches and on J. Habermas' recent comments on the theory of communication. Further, it is embedded in the more general context of having authority and social power. The first part of the model is represented by the imagination of the language norm that the language speakers and writers (text producers) share and by the language codex as a written, officially recognized product of codification. The social roles played by the language speakers constitute the second part. The model distinguishes between the role of the language users ("practitioners") and the established role of the critics. The latter can split into several part roles (codifiers, norm authorities and language experts). Finally, the third part of the model consists of texts as products of communication.