Diglossia is considered one of the outcomes of language contact.

1. DIGLOSSIA
A GENERAL VIEW OVER DIGLOSSIA

2. The Content of
This Presentation
I. General definition
II. Diglossia according to ferguson
III. The Emergence of Discussion on Diglossia
Definition of Diglossia
High varieties & Low varieties
I. What do H and L varieties mean?
II. The context when H and L varieties are
mostly used.
III. Examples of Diglossia ( H & L)
Diglossia in Algeria
Features of Diglossia
Introduction

3. Although “William Marçais” was the pioneer to introduce the term “diglossie‟ to
describe the linguistic situation in the Arab World (la diglossie Arabe), diglossia as a
sociolinguistic concept gained general currency with “Ferguson” in his seminal article of
1959. Ferguson used the term to refer to a situation where two varieties of a language
exist side by side throughout the community, with each having a definite role to play.
Explaining diglossia, Ferguson identifies four speech communities: the Arab World,
Greece, German-speaking Switzerland and Haiti, considering them as being
representative of the phenomenon. His definition makes a division between a High (H)
variety and a Low (L) variety- both are linguistically related to, but significantly different
from, one another. Therefore, diglossia is not bilingualism.
Introduction
Diglossia’s Stability in the Arab World: Algeria as an
Instance
Taoufik Djennane

4. General definition of
Diglossia
A situation in which two varieties of the same
language (or two languages) are used under
different conditions within a community.
Often, one form is the literary or prestige dialect,
and the other is common dialect spoken by most
of population.

5. According to Charles A. Furguson
“ DIGLOSSIA, is a relatively stable language
situation in which, in addition to the primary
dialects of the language, there is a very
divergent, highly codified superposed variety
which is learned largely by formal education
and is used for most written and formal
spoken purposes, but it is not used for
ordinary conversation”

6. The Emergence of
Discussion on Diglossia
The discussion of diglossia was first raised by Karl
Krumbacher in his book in 1902 then the Arabist
William Marçais used the term in 1930 to describe
the linguistic situation in Arabic speaking countries.
The sociolinguist Charles A. Ferguson introduced
the English equivalent diglossia in 1959 in the title of
an article.
William Marçais (1874-1956)

7. The word Diglossia comes from the Greek word (δίγλωσσος)
(díglōssos, “bilingual”) which means bilingualism. It was given its
meaning “ two forms of the same language “ by Emmanuel Rhoids.

8. Classical Arabic: Al-Fusha
Modern standard Arabic
Latin
Arabic Speaking
countries
Central Europe( France,
Spain, Italy)
Greece
Pure Greek: Kathareuousa
Examples of Diglossia
High
Variety
Low
Variety
Daily speaking Variety:
Al-Dariji
Oral Greek:
Dhimotiki
Languages in daily speaking

9. High Varieties
02
Low Varieties

10. The High variety (H) is usually the written
language while the Low variety (L) is the
spoken one. In formal situations, Literature,
Newspapers and other social institutions (H)
is used
Meanwhile, the variety that is used by the
most population in the informal contexts;
for instance, daily conversations, jokes, and
local advertisements is the (L) variety

11. High variety and Low variety Examples
SITUATION USE
 Sermon in church or in mosque
 Talk in parliament, political speech
 Lecture in University
 Personal letter
 Conversation with friends
 Radio drama
H
H
H
L
L
L

12. DIGLOSSIA
in ALGERIA
DIGLOSSIA IN
ALGERIA

13. Belonging to the Arabic-speaking World, Algeria, being in no way the
exception, is a de facto diglossic community. In classical terms, Ferguson's
description , Standard Arabic, “SA” for short, has the (H) stand and function,
whereas Algerian Arabic (AA) represents the (L) variety (what is said about
Algeria as far as Standard Arabic and Algerian Arabic are concerned perfectly
applies to most other Arabic-speaking countries). SA, being constitutionally
recognized as the sole official language of the State, is allocated to formal usage.
It is employed in literacy and for literary purposes, delivering religious preaches,
broadcasting news and so forth. AA is ascribed to informality, typically used in
casual conversations and daily interaction. It is also used in folk literature,
informal TV and radio programs (soaps), in captions and caricature on political
cartoons in newspapers, and also in advertising.
- Diglossia’s Stability in the Arab World: Algeria as an
Instance
Taoufik Djennane

14. ALGERIAN
COMMUNITY
High Variety Low Variety
SA: Standard
Arabic
AA: Algerian
Arabic
THIS CAN BE APPLIED WITH ALL
ARABIC SPEAKING COUNTRIES

15. FEATURES OF
DIGLOSSIA

16. 2/ Prestige
The functional distribution of H and L
variaties means that in certain situations only
the proper H variety is suitable for use, and in
other situations, the L variety can be used.
The H dialect is more prestigious,
superior, and more respected, while the
L dialect is considered inferior and
sometimes its existence is even
rejected by some people
1/ Function

17. 4/ Acquisition
Folk literature and poetry use the L
variety although many society
members assume that only literature
and poems with the H variety are
actually the literary works of a nation
The H variety can be acquired by
studying it in formal education, while
the L variety can be obtained by
socializing with family, friends, and the
like. In its application, the H variety is
not always used.
3/ Literary heritage

18. 6/ Stability
The H variety is usually standardized
through formal codification. Meanwhile, the L
variety is rarely noticed. If there is any
codification, it is usually made by researchers
from other speech communities in different
languages.
The existence of language varieties has been maintained
for a significant amount of time, this leads to stable H and L
varieties. With the development of language, the L variety's
borrowing lexical elements from the H variety is common,
but using the L variety's lexical elements in the H variety is
less common because the variety is usually used when
forced.
5/ Standardization

19. 8/ Lexicon
According to Ferguson, similar
language forms create H and L varieties
in diglossia although there are
grammatical differences.
In terms of vocabulary, most of the H
and L varieties are the same. However,
there are H variety verbs that do not
have pairs in the L variety, or vice versa.
7/ Grammar

20. The phonology of the H variety is a basic
system, while that of the L variety is a
subsystem. The H variety phonology is
closer to the general forms underlying it in
languages as a whole. The L variety
phonology is further from the basic forms.
9/ Phonology

21. Discussions about diglossia will not be enough to reach a
conclusion on the topic in a certain period of time. In accordance with
the current development, diglossia which highlights the differences
in the H and L varieties occurs not only in communities of one
language, but also at the broader level of multilingual communities.
The theories of diglossia that have been conveyed by prior
understanding will continue to develop in accordance with the
development of language.
CLOSING

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For your attention…

23. MOHAMED
KOURAK
AHMAD
KELAILIA
KOUBAI
CHAIMAA
FATIMA
KENTOUR
OUR TEAM

24. ● Https://www.wikipedia.org
● Diglossia’s Stability in the Arab World: Algeria as an Instance -Taoufik Djennane
● Deny A kwary ( www.kwary.net) Diglossia
● European Journal of Literature, Language and Linguistics Studies
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