This paper focuses on the idea that the study of language standards and standard languages must make reference to a different level of consciousness from that associated with the sort of naive language production in which the question of standards does not arise. Consciousness of language refers to the activity of reflecting upon the use of language by oneself and others. Such reflection can take many forms, from taboo to rhyme to folk etymology to prescriptive rules to Government and Binding Theory. Specific sections address the following: (1) consciousness of language as a cultural universal; (2) linguistics and the marginalization of consciousness; (3) overview of standardization theory; and (4) modeling the linguistic consciousness: Krashen's "Monitor."