Definition
diglossic
adjective
- relating to or characterized by diglossia; involving the use of two distinct varieties of a language in different social contexts
Usage: linguistics term; often used in sociolinguistics and language studies
Examples
- Many Arabic-speaking communities are diglossic, using Modern Standard Arabic in formal settings and regional dialects at home.
- The diglossic situation in Greece involves Katharevousa for official documents and Demotic Greek for everyday speech.
- Switzerland presents a diglossic environment where different languages serve different communicative functions.
- Linguists study diglossic societies to understand how speakers switch between language varieties.
- The diglossic nature of the community meant that children learned one variety at school and another at home.