Diglossia

Do you ever find yourself speaking in one language with your family and another in professional settings? This phenomenon, known as diglossia, is not only common but also deeply ingrained in certain cultures. From Arabic to Swiss German, diglossia manifests in a variety of ways and has significant implications for bilingualism and language attitudes. Let's explore some fascinating examples and types of diglossia in linguistics.

Diglossia meaning

Let's begin by taking a look at the etymology of diglossia:

Diglossia comes from the Greek diglōssos (δίγλωσσος) meaning 'bilingual' (to speak two languages). The term was first used in English in 1959 by linguist Charles Ferguson. Diglossia is a linguistic term used to describe a situation where two or more languages or language varieties are used in a complementary way within a community. One of the languages is considered a high or formal variety used in education, religion, literature, and formal occasions, while the other is a low or informal variety used in daily conversation and less prestigious domains.

Diglossia in linguistics

In linguistics, diglossia is a circumstance in which two different languages or dialects are used by a community of people who speak the same language. Diglossia is then a useful concept in linguistics for understanding how language is used in different social contexts and how linguistic variation can reflect social hierarchies and power relations within a community.

Fig. 1 - Diglossic communities use more than one language or dialect.

But how does a dialect differ from a language?

A language is a method of communication used by a particular country or region. It consists of sounds, written words, and grammar. Examples of languages include English, Spanish, and Urdu.

On the other hand, a dialect is a particular language variety used by a specific group of people. These people are often connected by social factors such as region, gender, age, ethnicity or job. Different dialects can use different vocabulary, grammar, and/or pronunciations. As a result, they may not be understood by outsiders. An example of a dialect is Southern British English, which differs from other regional dialects in the UK.

Types of diglossia

The languages or dialects that are used in diglossic communities are used for different purposes and can be labelled in two ways. The two different types of diglossia are high variety and low variety.

1. High variety

High variety refers to the language variety used in formal/professional settings, such as in education, politics, and the mass media.

2. Low variety

Low variety is used in everyday conversations and is spoken in more informal settings, such as at home and with family/friends.

Alongside standard diglossia, there is another type called bilingual diglossia. This occurs when one language variety is used for writing, and the other is used for speaking.

Diglossia examples

When Charles Ferguson first wrote about the term Diglossia, he introduced a few common examples of diglossic languages.

Some diglossic language examples are found in countries such as Arabic-Speaking Countries, Greece, Haiti, India, Senega, and Switzerland.

Arabic speaking countries

In Arabic-speaking communities, many people use both Classical Arabic and Egyptian Arabic. Classical Arabic is the high variety so it is seen as the standard language. It is not used in everyday conversation - instead, it is reserved for official and academic purposes. Egyptian Arabic is the most widely used Arabic dialect. It is regarded as the low variety, so is used in daily life.

Swiss German

In the German-speaking part of Switzerland, many people use both Standard German and Swiss German. Standard German is the high variety and is mostly used in written communication, whereas Swiss German is the low variety and is predominantly used in spoken conversations.

Standard French and Haitian Creole

In Haiti, many people use both Standard French and Haitian Creole. Standard French is regarded as the high variety and is more grammatically complex. It is used predominantly in formal written communication and in formal speech when necessary. Haitian Creole - a French dialect - is the low variety and is used in daily conversations.

Katharevousa Greek (aka 'pure' Greek) and Demotic Greek (aka Dimotiki)

In the 19th and 20th centuries, Katharevousa Greek and Demotic Greek were used by most Greeks. Katharevousa Greek was the high variety and was used in formal situations. Demotic Greek was the low variety and was used in more colloquial settings.

In the present day, these two Greek language varieties are now either not commonly used or are no longer in use. Katharevousa Greek tends to be reserved for official purposes in the Church of Greece and other Greek Orthodox Churches.

Demotic Greek was an earlier form of Modern Greek. It was made the official language of Greece in 1976 and evolved over time into what is now known as Standard Modern Greek.

Diglossia and bilingualism

Are diglossia and bilingualism the same thing? Some people (including Ferguson himself) would describe diglossia as a type of bilingualism, as both involve the use of more than one language. However, it could be argued that they are not the same. Let's consider the potential differences between them both:

Diglossia tends to place more focus on a community of people who all use two languages or dialects. On the other hand, bilingualism can be used to describe individuals who know two languages (usually fluently). A bilingual person does not necessarily have to come from a bilingual family or community - they could pick up another language from elsewhere, such as in school or from working abroad.