Changes of standards such as the above are for the most part unmotivated and are sequel to natural historical process of language growth. But language standardization can be motivated and conscious, too, when for reasons of national pride and culture, some scholars or academies take it upon themselves to purify their languages by diversing them of all foreign influences and developing indigenous standards. Sometimes the motivation is simply to codify rules and standards where parallel varieties have cropped up in the language. Impelled by a sense of national culture and purity, the French Academy (est. 1630), for instance, has been zealously guarding the French language against the alien elements and prescribing standards. The two language academics in Italy, Florentine Academy (1540) and standard grammar and dictionaries of Italian language, were mainly responsible for elevating the Tuscan dialect as a standard in Italy. Similar, academics came into existence in several European countries during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, e.g. the Spanish Academy (1783) in Spain, the Swedish Academy (1786) in Sweden, the German Academy (1617) in Germany, the English Academy (app. 1712) in England and one in USA (app. 1821). Not all of them, met with success except the Spanish Academy. The Fowler's or King's English and the RP (Received Pronunciation) standard of English pronunciation are further examples of attempts at language standardization in the present century.

     For centuries, English language in England served subservient to French and Latin - French being its language of governance and Latin the language of learning. Motivated by an unusual sense of pride, the English speakers during the period of Renaissance resolved to throw away the yoke of French and Latin and elevate and standardize their own language. Consequently, a conscious attempt was made to regulate the English language by removing its inadequacies and standardize the English language vocabulary, grammar and speech. The great English lexicographer Samuel Johnson, who took it upon himself to regulate and standardize the English language vocabulary, wrote, "Every language has .. its improprieties and absurdities which it is the duty of the lexicographer to correct or prescribe". (Johnson 1747/1963;4).