DIGLOSSIADIGLOSSIA

Deny A. KwaryDeny A. Kwary

http://www.kwary.nethttp://www.kwary.net

Airlangga UniversityAirlangga University

Early Definition (1959) Early Definition (1959) p.88p.88

Ferguson: Diglossia is a relatively Ferguson: Diglossia is a relatively stable language situation, in which, in stable language situation, in which, in addition to the primary dialects of the addition to the primary dialects of the language, there is a very divergent, language, there is a very divergent, highly codified superposed variety… highly codified superposed variety… which is learned largely by formal which is learned largely by formal education and is used for most education and is used for most written and formal spoken purposes.written and formal spoken purposes.

The Features of DiglossiaThe Features of Diglossia

1.1. FunctionFunction2.2. PrestigePrestige3.3. Literary heritageLiterary heritage4.4. AcquisitionAcquisition5.5. StandardizationStandardization6.6. StabilityStability7.7. GrammarGrammar8.8. LexiconLexicon9.9. PhonologyPhonology

1. Function1. Function

HH LL

Sermon Sermon XX

Instruction to servantsInstruction to servants XX

Speech in parliamentSpeech in parliament XX

University lectureUniversity lecture XX

Conversation with friendsConversation with friends XX

Newspaper editorialNewspaper editorial XX

Etc.Etc.

2. Prestige2. Prestige

The speakers regard The speakers regard H as superior to L in a H as superior to L in a number of respects.number of respects.

E.g. H is considered E.g. H is considered more educated, more more educated, more beautiful, more beautiful, more logical, better able to logical, better able to express important express important thoughts, etc.thoughts, etc.

3. Literary Heritage3. Literary Heritage

There is a sizable body of written There is a sizable body of written

literature in H which is held in high literature in H which is held in high

esteem by the speech community.esteem by the speech community.

4. Acquisition4. Acquisition

Adults use L in speaking to Adults use L in speaking to

children and children use L in children and children use L in

speaking to one another.speaking to one another.

The actual learning of H is The actual learning of H is

chiefly accomplished by the chiefly accomplished by the

means of formal education.means of formal education.

5. Standardization5. Standardization There are studies or books on There are studies or books on

grammars, dictionaries, treatises on grammars, dictionaries, treatises on pronunciation, styles, and so on, of pronunciation, styles, and so on, of the H.the H.

There is an established norm for There is an established norm for pronunciation, grammar, and pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary which allows variation vocabulary which allows variation only within certain limits.only within certain limits.

6. Stability6. Stability

Diglossia typically persists at least Diglossia typically persists at least several centuries, and evidence several centuries, and evidence in some cases seems to show in some cases seems to show

that it can last well over a that it can last well over a thousand years.thousand years.

7. Grammar7. Grammar

H has grammatical categories not H has grammatical categories not present in L and has an inflectional present in L and has an inflectional system of nouns and verbs which is system of nouns and verbs which is much reduced or totally absent in L.much reduced or totally absent in L.

E.g. Standard German has four cases E.g. Standard German has four cases in the noun; Swiss German has only in the noun; Swiss German has only three cases in the noun.three cases in the noun.

8. Lexicon8. Lexicon

H includes in its total lexicon technical terms H includes in its total lexicon technical terms and learned expressions which have no and learned expressions which have no regular L equivalents, since the subjects regular L equivalents, since the subjects involved are rarely if ever discussed in pure L.involved are rarely if ever discussed in pure L.

L includes in its total lexicon popular L includes in its total lexicon popular expressions and the names of very homely expressions and the names of very homely objects or objects of very localized objects or objects of very localized distribution which have no regular H distribution which have no regular H equivalents, since the subjects involved are equivalents, since the subjects involved are rarely if ever discussed in pure H.rarely if ever discussed in pure H.

9. Phonology9. Phonology

The sound systems if H and L The sound systems if H and L constitutes a single phonological constitutes a single phonological structure of which the L phonology is structure of which the L phonology is the basic system.the basic system.

Note: Ferguson states, “It may seem Note: Ferguson states, “It may seem difficult to offer any generalization on difficult to offer any generalization on the relationships between the the relationships between the phonology on H and L in diglossia in phonology on H and L in diglossia in view of the diversity of data.view of the diversity of data.

Fishman (1972)Fishman (1972)

DiglossiaDiglossia

++ – –

BilingualismBilingualism++ +B +D+B +D +B –D+B –D

–– ––B +DB +D ––B –DB –D

Examples:+B +D : Paraguay (Spanish and Guarani)+B - D : Belgium (German and French)- B +D : Russian- B - D : Hypothetical

Overlapping Diglossia and Overlapping Diglossia and Triglossia (Mkifili, 1978)Triglossia (Mkifili, 1978)

A research on the use of English, A research on the use of English, Swahili and local language.Swahili and local language.

English

Swahili

Local language

Poliglossia (Platt, 1977)Poliglossia (Platt, 1977)

A Research in MalaysiaA Research in Malaysia Formal EnglishFormal English MalayMalay MandarinMandarin Malay-EnglishMalay-English Other Chinese Other Chinese

languageslanguages Colloquial MalayColloquial Malay