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Diglossia

Diglossia is a sociolinguistic phenomenon where two distinct language varieties coexist within a community, with the 'high' variety used in formal contexts and the 'low' variety in informal settings. Introduced by Ferguson in 1959, it emphasizes the functional separation and prestige of each variety, requiring formal education for the H variety and natural acquisition for the L variety. Changes in diglossic situations can occur due to language shift, modernization, or external influences, potentially affecting the status of either variety.

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Eman Khurram
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39 views1 page

Diglossia

Diglossia is a sociolinguistic phenomenon where two distinct language varieties coexist within a community, with the 'high' variety used in formal contexts and the 'low' variety in informal settings. Introduced by Ferguson in 1959, it emphasizes the functional separation and prestige of each variety, requiring formal education for the H variety and natural acquisition for the L variety. Changes in diglossic situations can occur due to language shift, modernization, or external influences, potentially affecting the status of either variety.

Uploaded by

Eman Khurram
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Diglossia

Diglossia refers to a sociolinguistic situation where two distinct language varieties coexist in a single

speech community, each serving different social functions. The 'high' variety (H) is used in formal

contexts such as education, religion, and government, while the 'low' variety (L) is spoken in

everyday informal interactions. The two varieties are functionally separate, meaning speakers do not

mix them in the same domain. Classical examples include Swiss German (H) versus Swiss dialects

(L) in Switzerland and Arabic where Modern Standard Arabic (H) coexists with regional dialects (L).

Ferguson (1959) first introduced this concept, highlighting key characteristics such as prestige,

function differentiation, and grammatical stability. In societies with strict diglossia, speakers must

learn the H variety through formal education, while the L variety is acquired naturally. Over time,

diglossic situations may change due to language shift, modernization, or external influences, leading

to the decline of the H or L variety.

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