taalnorm

Taalnorm, literally “language norm” in Dutch, is a normative concept referring to the set of language forms deemed acceptable within a speech community. It encompasses pronunciation, morphology, syntax, vocabulary, spelling, and style, and it may be codified in prescriptive grammars, dictionaries, school curricula, style guides, and broadcasting guidelines. Taalnorm helps define a standard variety, often analogous to the standard or prestige dialect used in formal communication, such as Algemene Beschaafd Nederlands (ABN) in the Dutch-speaking world, though norms still vary by region and social context and evolve over time.

Norms can be descriptive as well—describing actual language use while still providing a target form—or prescriptive, actively promoting certain forms over others. In practice, taalnorms influence education, public administration, media, and language testing, shaping what is taught in schools and what is considered acceptable in official communication.

Critics argue that strict taalnorms can marginalize speakers of regional dialects or multilingual varieties and may hinder linguistic diversity. Proponents contend that a shared norm supports clarity, mutual intelligibility, and social cohesion. With globalization and digital communication, contemporary taalnorms are increasingly negotiated through institutions and online communities, leading to ongoing debates about prescriptivism, descriptivism, and language policy.

Related concepts include standard language, prescriptivism, descriptivism, dialect, language policy, and standard Dutch varieties such as ABN.