DIGLOSSIA
Sosciolinguistics
Pages 90_96
Professor:Dr.Ghadiri
Diglossia
■ A situation in which there are two distinct codes with clear
functional separation,one code is employed in one set of
circumstances and the other in an entirely different set.
■ Furguson Defines:
A relatively stable language situation in which, in addition to the
primary dialects of the language,there is a very divergent, highly
codified superposed variety, the vehicle of a large and respected body
of written literature, which is learned largely by formal education and
is used for most written and formal spoken purposes but is not used by
any sector of the community for ordinary conversation
■ In each diglossic situation there is
1. High variety (H)
2. Low variety (L)
Each variety has its own specialized functions, and each is
viewed differently by those who are aware of both
For example :
Country H variety L variety
Arabic-speaking Classical Arabic Various regional
countries colloquial varieties
Switzerland Standard German Swiss German
Haiti Standard Haitian Creole
French
Domains
■ A key defining characteristic of diglossia is that the two varieties are kept quite
separate in their functions.
One is used in one set of circumstances and the other
in an entirely different set; these circumstances are called domains.
For example *
H variety L variety
For For
1. Formal lectures 1. giving instructions to
2. Delivering sermons Workers in low-prestige
3. Writing poetry occupations or to household
servants
4. Editorials in newspapers
2. conversation with
5. Giving political speeches Familiars
6. Broadcasting the news on 3. ‘soap operas’ and popular
radio and television programs on the radio
4. Folk literature
Speakers are unlikely to use an H variety in
circumstances calling for an L variety,
for example, for addressing a servant; nor do they
usually use an L variety when an
H is called for, for example, for writing a
‘serious’ work of literature.
■ But The L variety often shows a tendency to borrow learned words from the H
variety, particularly when speakers try to use the L variety in more formal
ways. The result is a certain admixture of H vocabulary into the L.
Language H veriety
is prestigious and powerful.
attitudes and
It is more ‘beautiful,’ ‘logical,’ and
‘expressive’ than the L variety.
ideologies L variety
Lacks prestige and power.
people
This feeling of superiority may be may even deny that they know it.
reinforced by the fact that considerable
body of literature will be found to exist That’s why the H variety deemed
in that veriety and almost none in other appropriate for literary use, for religious
This literature may reflect essential purposes.
values about culture. There may be considerable resistance to
Click
translating certain books into the L variety
For example the Qur’an into one or other
colloquial varieties of Arabic
Language learning
■ Another important difference between the H and L varieties is that all
children learn the L variety and it is also home language. some may
concurrently learn the H variety but many do not learn it at all.
■ The H variety is likely to be learned in formal setting like
in classrooms or as part of a religious or cultural indoctrination.
■ The H variety is *taught* whereas the L variety is *learned* because
teaching requires the availability of grammars, dictionaries, or
standardized texts. There are usually no comparable grammars,
dictionaries, or standardized texts for the L variety .
The statuses of the H and L varieties
■ There are difference in diglossic and non diglossic situations
1. No one learns the H variety as their first language in
home. However, in non-diglossic situations, many
people learn what is considered the Standard variety as
their first language.
2. In diglossia the varieties do not overlap in their
functions because of their status differences. In other
types of bilingualism, it is possible that either language,
or both languages can be used in a particular domain.
■ A diglossic pattern of language use can contribute to societal
problems if there is
1. a growth of literacy,
2. or when there is a desire to decrease regional and/or social
barriers
3. Or When a need is seen for a unified ‘national’ language.
• Any move to extend the L variety, even, in the case of
Haiti(page93) , to make the population literate in any variety, is
likely to be perceived to be a direct threat to those who want to
maintain traditional relationships and the existing power
structure.
Extended diglossia and language
maintenance
■ What Ferguson describes are ‘narrow’ or ‘classic’ diglossic
situations
■ Fishman has broadened or extended the term to include a
wider variety of language situations.
■ For Fishman diglossia is ‘an enduring societal arrangement,’
extending at least beyond a three-generation period, such that
two varieties each have their secure, phenomenologically
legitimate, and widely implemented functions.
• Fishman’s proposal extends the concept of diglossia to include
multilingual situations in which the different languages have quite
different functions.
For example Rubin describes the Spanish and Guaraní in Paraguay for
extended diglossia
■ Spanish is H variety for ■ Guaraní as L variety with
1. formal occasions 1. Friends
2. Government business 2. Servents
3. In Conversations with well 3. Poorly dressed strangers
dressed strangers
4. Telling jokes or making love
4. Business transactions
5. Casual occasions
■ It was preferred in cities
■ It was preferred in countryside
■ Rubin identified the factors involved in language choice in
society
Location
✔️Formality
✔️Gender
✔️Status
✔️Intimacy
✔️Seriousness
✔️Type of activity
Questioning diglossia
■ The relative statuses of the languages may not be exactly as Ferguson
depicts;
Country H veriety L variety
Switzerland Standard German Swiss German
Stępkowska
notes that in Switzerland, Swiss German has long had high prestige and
this fact would contradict the usual assumptions about the L code in a
diglossic situation. The situation there is further complicated because
Swiss German is now the language of instruction in elementary schools.
So the validity of diglossia as a language practice has been questioned.
