Standardized crochet charts and knitting charts, both nationally and internationally

Dear users, dear authors,
As far as I know, there is no standardized crochet chart or knitting chart, either nationally or internationally. Does that mean we have to rely on the respective abbreviations being explained in the patterns?

Actually, yes. Or ask here—someone is sure to know.

Especially with knitting charts, there are many ways to represent individual stitches using different symbols.
With crochet charts, it’s usually easier because the symbols resemble the stitches, so you can already recognize the pattern just by looking at the crochet chart. It gets more difficult, though, when it comes to special stitches.
In any case, I always include the abbreviations in my patterns.

Most of the time, the pattern specifies which terminology is used—US or UK... It gets “funny” with Italian patterns, which are described yet differently....
Personally, I find knitting patterns/knitting charts easier. But maybe that’s because I much prefer knitting to crocheting. In any case, when I’m knitting, I have a better idea of what the finished piece will look like than when I’m crocheting. If the patterns are purely written, I tend to get lost when crocheting. 

Knitting charts are really a whole different story. Publishers that sell knitting magazines or books all have their own systems—probably for copyright reasons. I know of at least four different “languages” just among German publishers.
Old patterns are really bad. Many of the symbols look very similar, and you have to pay incredibly close attention.
The only thing worse are patterns without diagrams, where everything is described word for word. When you take your eyes off your knitting and look at the text, you absolutely must not end up on the wrong line—otherwise, everything gets mixed up.

I think Japanese knitting charts are the best. They’re largely standardized. I have several Japanese pattern books. I don’t know a word of Japanese, but that doesn’t matter, because for each symbol there are illustrations in the right place showing how a particular stitch is worked.