What role do the press and dictionaries play in standardization?

• A. They contribute to documentation of language without shaping usage.
• B. They avoid influencing language forms.
• C. They codify and disseminate accepted forms, shaping standard usage.
• D. They only record changes after several generations.

Answer: (C)

Standardization in language is driven by institutions that fix what counts as the accepted form. The press and dictionaries play this role by codifying and disseminating accepted forms. Dictionaries compile spellings, senses, and grammatical patterns that are treated as standard references, giving writers and readers a concrete set of norms to follow. The press reinforces these norms through consistent usage, editorial guidelines, and style decisions that shape what is considered correct in published text. Because both reach broad audiences and are widely consulted—by schools, publishers, and the general public—the standards they promote become influential in everyday language use. They are active agents in standardization, not merely records of how people happen to speak, since their authority helps determine what forms are seen as acceptable.