noun
- Plural of diglossia; situations in which two distinct varieties of a language coexist within a community, each used in different social contexts or for different purposes.
Usage: linguistics; formal
Examples
- Many Arabic-speaking countries experience diglossias, with Modern Standard Arabic used in formal settings and regional dialects in everyday conversation.
- The study examined diglossias in Switzerland, where French, German, Italian, and Romansh are distributed across different regions and contexts.
- Linguists have documented diglossias in Greece, where Katharevousa and Demotic Greek historically served distinct social functions.
- Diglossias can create challenges for language learners who must master both the formal and colloquial varieties.
- The researcher's paper analyzed multiple diglossias across Mediterranean communities.