Standard English refers to the variety of the English language that is widely accepted as the normative form, particularly in formal and academic contexts. It is often associated with prestige, social status, and educational attainment.

However, Standard English is not the only legitimate form of the language, and that regional dialects and non-standard varieties also have their own linguistic validity and cultural significance. However, Standard English remains the dominant and prestige-associated form of the language in many contexts.

The concept of Standard English as the prestige variety of the language has its origins in the dialects spoken around London in the late medieval period. During the 15th and 16th centuries, the London-based dialect, influenced by the royal court and emerging administrative and commercial centers, began to emerge as the standard form of the language.

The rise of printing and the subsequent expansion of the British Empire in the 17th and 18th centuries further solidified the status of Standard English as the dominant and prestigious variety. The language of the educated classes, government, and media became recognized as the standard, often leading to the stigmatization of regional dialects and non-standard forms of English.

Standard English wasn't born overnight, but gradually rose from a Middle English dialect spoken around London. Influential writing, like Chaucer's works and government documents, laid the groundwork for a common language. The printing press and landmark texts like the King James Bible further solidified this by spreading these consistent forms. Education and the rise of prescriptive rules then cemented Standard English as the language of power and knowledge. However, it's important to remember that this standard wasn't fixed. It continues to evolve today, reflecting the ongoing interplay of social, political, and cultural forces.

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• Multiple Standards: The term "Standard English" encompasses different accents associated with prestige and education. For instance, Received Pronunciation (RP) in England and General American (GA) in the US are both considered standard accents, but they have distinct pronunciations.

• Focus on Prestige: Standard English phonology tends to focus on these "prestige" accents because they're used in formal settings like education and media. These accents share some common features, like a consistent inventory of consonants and vowels.

• Variation within Standards: Even within these standard accents, there's room for variation. For example, RP has different pronunciations for the vowel in "bath" depending on location.

• Non-Standard Dialects: It's important to remember that Standard English isn't the only way English is spoken. Many regional and social dialects have unique phonological features.