Diglossia

Diglossia (a word coined from the ancient Greek δίγλωσσος, of two languages) is the coexistence situation of two related linguistic varieties within a same population or territory, where one of the languages has dominance or preference (as a language of culture, prestige or official use) over another, which is relegated to situations of orality, family life and folklore. This concept was popularized by Charles A. Ferguson. In certain definitions, such as Joshua Fishman's, it is not necessary for the 2 varieties to be related or similar. When there are three or more languages, this situation is called polyglossia or multiglossia. The dominance or preference of one language over another can be natural or imposed. This double possibility is defining.

Description

Diglossia exists when there is a distribution of functions between a tall variety (A) and a low variety (B), so that each one is used only in certain areas or domains: variety A, in formal and distant situations, and B, in informal contexts. It would be inappropriate or ridiculous to use both variants interchangeably. The diglossic community considers the A variety to be more prestigious than the B variety. The B variety is usually acquired as a mother tongue, while the A is only learned formally in academic contexts.

Variety A has some grammatical categories that are reduced or disappear in variety B. Variety A has a cultured, technical and specialized lexicon that B lacks. In turn, this variety has the vocabulary and phraseological expressions typical of the family and popular environment. Variety A is standardized thanks to the elaboration of grammars, dictionaries and spelling rules that allow its knowledge; such a standardization process does not exist for variety B. Likewise, there is a literary corpus in variety A that constitutes the literary heritage, non-existent in B.

Diglossia situations can last for centuries, although the appearance of mixed subvarieties between A and B, as well as the progressive confusion of social functions during that time, can evolve until diglossia disappears.

The most persistent and radical contemporary case of diglossia or, better to say, multiglossia, is that of the Philippines.

Classical works on diglossia

Ferguson (1959)

A classic article by Charles A. Ferguson identifies several situations that occur in typically diglossic situations, in which there is a "high variety" (A), more prestigious and used in formal situations, and a "low variety" (B), used in informal contexts. The typical situations that give rise to a situation of diglossia have to do with:

• Function: There is a distribution of functions between a high variety (A) and a low variety (B), so that each is used only in certain areas or domains: variety A, in formal and distant situations, and B, in informal contexts. It would be improper or even ridiculous to use both variants indistinctly.
• Prestigio: the majority of the community where this diglosia exists considers that the A variety is more prestigious than the B variety.
• Acquisition: variant B is acquired as a mother tongue, while A is only formally learned in academic contexts.
• Grammatical system: the A variety has grammatical categories that are reduced or disappear in the B variety.
• Léxico: the A variety has a lexicon cult, technical and specialized of which B lacks. In turn, it has the vocabulary and phraseological expressions of the family and popular sphere.
• Standardization: the variety A is standardized thanks to the elaboration of grammar, dictionaries and orthographic norms that allow its knowledge. This standardization process does not exist for variety B.
• Literary heritage: There is a literary corpus in variety A, which does not exist, on the contrary, in B.
• Stability: Diglosic situations can last for centuries, although the emergence of mixed subvaries between A and B, as well as the progressive confusion of social functions during that time, can evolve to make digression disappear.
• Fonology: the phonetic of the high variety is more careful and prestigious.

Ferguson mentions various cases of diglossia in different parts of the planet:

• French (A) and Haitian Creole (B) in Haiti;
• English (A) and Jamaican Patois (B) in Jamaica;
• Classical Arabic, also called literary or cult (A) and colloquial Arabic (B) in Arab countries;
• German (A) and German of Switzerland (tütsch) (B) in Switzerland.

It must be taken into account that the situations of diglossia observed in the fifties by Ferguson in those regions do not have to continue occurring today with the same intensity. Therefore, it is convenient to consult updated reviews if you want to go beyond the description.

Fishman (1972)

For its part, the concept of wide diglossia, used by current language sociology, is due to J. Fishman (1972), for whom it encompasses all situations in which there is a functional distribution of two linguistic varieties in a speech community —whether they are dialects, sociolects or registers of the same language, or if they are two different languages. Conceived in this way, extensive diglossia comprises a continuum of situations ranging from cases in which different languages are used (overlapping bilingualism) to cases of mere stylistic variation.. However, this broad conception has not been exempt from criticism because, in these terms, all societies are diglossic and the concept then includes phenomena of a very different nature.

Diglossia and bilingualism

• Difference between bilingualism and digression: The main difference between the two terms is at the level of sociocultural status, considering bilingualism as the coexistence of two languages in the same territory, without the existence of predominance of one on the other, being both equally valued.

In contrast, the term diglossia is the coexistence of two languages in the same territory but, in this case, one of them being predominant over the other, acquiring greater prestige and rank for matters of a specific nature. official, the other language being relegated to familiar and daily use.

• Situations between bilingualism and diglosia:

Fishman (1972:102) establishes three types of common situations between bilingualism and diglossia:

1. Situations of bilingualism and diglosia in a stable way: can be seen in countries with several official languages such as Switzerland where the linguistic situation is very stable.
2. Situations where there is bilingualism but without diglosia: when there is no clear functional separation from the use of languages and the situation is not stable; then it tends to monolingualism. Examples of these situations would be that of immigrants in rich countries, from poor countries, where they can stop speaking their mother tongue.
3. Situations of diglosia without bilingualism: when two groups without social connection keep their own languages separate. It is the case of English in India during the colonial period, which did not extend to the low castes.