Which term describes a language that has two forms, a higher and a lower form, used in formal and informal contexts?

Which term describes a language that has two forms, a higher and a lower form, used in formal and informal contexts?

• A. Diglossia
• B. Discourse Management
• C. De-contextualised Language
• D. Discourse

Answer: (A)

Diglossia describes a situation where a language exists in two forms that are used in different social contexts: a high variety for formal, prestige contexts like education, government, and media, and a low variety for everyday informal communication. This separation lets speakers switch between forms to align with status, setting, and expectations. It’s different from general discourse or discourse management, which refer to how we speak in conversations or organize talk, and from de-contextualised language, which lacks situational context. A classic example is Arabic, where Modern Standard Arabic serves as the high form in news and literature, while regional dialects function as the low form in daily conversation.

Diglossia describes a situation where a language exists in two forms that are used in different social contexts: a high variety for formal, prestige contexts like education, government, and media, and a low variety for everyday informal communication. This separation lets speakers switch between forms to align with status, setting, and expectations. It’s different from general discourse or discourse management, which refer to how we speak in conversations or organize talk, and from de-contextualised language, which lacks situational context. A classic example is Arabic, where Modern Standard Arabic serves as the high form in news and literature, while regional dialects function as the low form in daily conversation.