What is diglossia According to Fishman?

According to Fishman (1967) , diglossia refers to all kinds of language varieties, from stylistic differences within one language or use of separate dialects to the use of (related or unrelated) separate languages.

What is the relationship between bilingualism and diglossia?

Diglossia is used for a speech community where two languages or dialects are spoken. An individual who speaks two languages, usually with equal ease, is bilingual.

Is diglossia and bilingualism the same?

Diglossia literally means “two tongues.” This definition gives the impression that diglossia and bilingualism are the same thing. However, diglossia is a distinct form of bilingualism in that the use of the two languages are determined by the function. A diglossia consists of a high and low language.

How do Ferguson and Fishman differ in their concepts of diglossia?

Ferguson limited his view of diglossia to two language varie- ties, but Fishman allows for situations in which there are more than two languages.

What is diglossia example?

Diglossia, in a strict definition, is distinct in that the “high” version of a language isn’t used for ordinary conversation and has no native speakers. Examples include the differences between standard and Egyptian Arabic; Greek; and Haitian Creole.

Can diglossia exist without bilingualism?

Diglossia without bilingualism There are situations in which diglossia obtains whereas bilingualism is generally absent (quadrant 3). Here, two or more speech communities are united religiously, politically or economically into a single functioning unit notwithstanding the socio-cultural cleavages that separate them.

What is diglossia according to Ferguson?

Ferguson introduced the English equivalent diglossia in 1959 in the title of an article. His conceptualization of diglossia describes a society with more than one prevalent language or the high variety, which pertains to the language used in literature, newspapers, and other social institutions.

What are the two main features of diglossia in a bilingual community?

There are three crucial features of diglossia (listed on p. 27): (i) Two distinct varieties of the same language are used in the community, with one regarded as high (or H) variety and the other a low (or L) variety. (ii) Each variety is used for quite distinct functions; H and L complement each other.