Pluricentric Languages Worldwide: Series 1: Pluricentric Theory/"One size fits all"? Linguistic standards in the media of pluricentric language areas

This volume deals with language policies and practices relating to the linguistic standard used in a range of different media. It contains research on ten language areas. The aim is to gain a better understanding of such policies and practices in both original and translated media in different pluricentric language areas. Sociolinguists are studying language use in all kinds of spoken, written, and audiovisual media. Similarly, language attitude towards language use, and also the impact of media on language change is investigated. Some of these media are scripted and professionally produced, such as news broadcasts, dubbed films, and podcasts, while other media, like video blogs or posts on social media, are not necessarily. Media creators often, but not always, adhere to linguistic guidelines or language policies. They may also, sometimes without knowing it, follow certain established linguistic practices, or deliberately challenge these. In pluricentric language areas, when language is used in the media, decisions are often made in terms of which language variety to use. Such decisions usually take into consideration the main target audience. Sometimes an attempt is made to use a so called “neutral variety", unmarked for any specific part of the language area, to cater to the larger language area as a whole. This one-size-fits-all approach, however, is challenged by glocalisation tendencies and calls for more linguistic diversity. Moreover, the Age of Streaming opened up new possibilities with several language versions that can be offered on demand (including media accessibility). Dutch-language audiobooks, for instance, can sometimes be streamed in a Belgian and a Netherlands Dutch version. Likewise, some audiovisual fiction for children is available in a Belgian and Netherlands Dutch dubbed version on streaming platforms.