Prestige dialect 標準語 / 표준어

hyōjungo / pyojuneo · from English

What is a prestige dialect?

A prestige dialect is the variety a society regards as most correct or high-status, often the basis for the standard language.

Standard Mandarin is based on Beijing pronunciation, standard Japanese (標準語 hyōjungo) on the Tokyo speech of educated classes, and standard Korean (표준어 pyojuneo) on Seoul speech. Prestige is social, not linguistic: no variety is inherently better.

Examples

Standard Mandarin (Beijing phonology); Japanese 標準語 hyōjungo (Tokyo); Korean 표준어 pyojuneo (Seoul); Received Pronunciation (UK)

Kungfucius says: The prestige dialect is whatever the capital happens to speak.