Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 November 2008
This article discusses the notion of regional standards of a language with regard to modern Danish. A regional standard is defined relative to a spectrum of varieties ranging from the national standard to the classical local dialects. We define the national standard, in accordance with Brink (1988), as the variety which has no localizable features. A local dialect is defined, in accordance with Danish dialectological tradition, as a combination of features which are inherent and not derived from the national standard. With evidence from studies of Danish regional variation we show that, for a geographical entity, a statistically determined boundary can be established in the range between these two extremes. On the scale of varieties between the two, the regional standard is posited as the range closest to the national standard. Local varieties that are not strictly classical dialects may no longer be active in some areas — a phenomenon illustrated by the variation in an area relatively close to Copenhagen, the center of gravity of new national standard developments. The development of features is described in terms of Bailey's wave model (1973).