Lingthusiasm
113: Why "it's a diglossia!" explains so many social dynamics
February 20, 202648 min · 8,495 words
Show notes
In some communities, everyone regularly uses two languages or varieties according to the social situation, with one of them being more prestigious (and more likely to be written down) than the other. This particular kind of multilingualism is known as a diglossia. In this episode, your hosts Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne get enthusiastic about diglossia!
Highlighted moments
the way that diglossia hides is by one of them being the real version of the language and the other one just being bad versions.
“An outsider who learns to speak fluent, accurate L and then uses it in a formal speech is an object of ridicule. A member of the speech community who uses H in a purely conversational situation or in an informal activity like shopping is equally an object of ridicule.”
“the H word for wine is inos, the L word is krasi. The menu will have inos written on it, but the diner will ask the waiter for krasi.”
“educated speakers of Haitian Creole frequently deny its existence, insisting they always speak French. This attitude cannot be called a deliberate attempt to deceive the questioner, but seems almost a self-deception.”
Transcript
Transcript not available for this episode yet.
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