The rise of open informatics systems, large language models (LLMs), and digital documentation practices raises critical questions about the role of power politics in the spread, succession, and standardisation of languages. Beyond linguistic imperialism, this study asks: What enables a language to succeed and become standardised when speakers worldwide now have open access to practice their preferred languages? This paper explores alternative factors in linguistic change, particularly standardisation and stigmatisation, through the lens of social determinants theory, which emphasises the role of social interaction and acceptance in linguistic shifts. Adopting a historical-comparative method, the study analyses secondary texts on Sanskrit and Bangla, two languages from the same family practiced historically in Bengal. The analysis reveals patterns of standardisation and stigmatisation, showing why Sanskrit declined while Bangla was standardised at a critical stage. The findings support the hypothesis that authoritative imposition alone cannot guarantee the standardisation of a language. Instead, widespread social use, flexibility in pronunciation, and the ability to accommodate diverse expressions enable a language to flourish and increase the likelihood of its standardisation. Future research should focus on empirical data to verify whether widespread social use, flexibility in pronunciation, and the ability of a language to accommodate diverse expressions help in strengthening the standardisation process.