diglossia

[ dahy-glos-ee-uh, -glaw-see-uh ]

noun

1. the widespread existence within a society of sharply divergent formal and informal varieties of a language each used in different social contexts or for performing different functions, as the existence of Katharevusa and Demotic in modern Greece.
2. Pathology. the presence of two tongues or of a single tongue divided into two parts by a cleft.

diglossia

/ daɪˈɡlɒsɪə /

noun

1. linguistics the existence in a language of a high, or socially prestigious, and a low, or everyday, form, as German and Swiss German in Switzerland

Other Words From

• di·glos·sic [dahy-, glos, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of diglossia¹

1955–60; Latinization of French diglossie, equivalent to Greek díglōss ( os ) speaking two languages ( diglot ) + French -ie -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of diglossia¹

C20: New Latin, via French, from Greek diglōssos speaking two languages: see diglot

Example Sentences

She noted that while places like German Switzerland also practice diglossia, the use of two languages, the difference is that both Swiss German and High German are living, spoken languages.

From The New Yorker