diglossia
High-low language split
Diglossia is a situation where two varieties of the same language coexist in a community, each reserved for different contexts.
One variety—typically more formal or literary—is used in education, government, and religious texts, while the other is spoken at home and in everyday conversation.
Arabic-speaking countries exemplify this: Classical Arabic appears in news broadcasts and the Quran, while regional dialects dominate daily life.
The term extends to communities where two distinct languages serve these separate functions.
Limited to particular field
- prestigeReputation commanding admiration
- vernacularEveryday regional speech
- registerRecord officially; vocal range
- sociolectLanguage variety by group
Adapting speech for context
- borrowingTemporary taking of another's
- convergenceProcess of approaching sameness
- accommodationShelter or housing provided
domain-specific
Limited to particular field
- prestigeReputation commanding admiration
- vernacularEveryday regional speech
- registerRecord officially; vocal range
bilingualism
Proficiency in two languages
- mother-tongueLanguage acquired from birth
colloquial
Casual, everyday language
- demoticOf common folk
style-shifting
Adapting speech for context
- borrowingTemporary taking of another's
- convergenceProcess of approaching sameness
- accommodationShelter or housing provided
standardization
Implementing uniform technical specifications
- purismInsistence on correctness