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Diglossia: A critical overview of the Swiss example

Publication date: 11.09.2012

Studia Linguistica Universitatis Iagellonicae Cracoviensis, 2012, Volume 129, Issue 3, pp. 199-209

https://doi.org/10.4467/20834624SL.12.013.0602

Authors

Agnieszka Stępkowska
University of Social Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; Chodakowska 19/31, Warszawa
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Titles

Diglossia: A critical overview of the Swiss example

Abstract

The article addresses the issue of diglossia in its original and extended definition. The main point of discussion is the validity of the ‘defining cases’ of diglossia selected by Ferguson (1959) to substantiate his concept. The four well-known pairs of languages described by Ferguson in his seminal article include the ‘Swiss pair’ of Standard German and Swiss German and their functional distribution. Following a number of critical opinions, I will show that the consistency between the definition and its Swiss illustration raises a few questions and cannot be considered tenable. Lastly, I will highlight the main differences between diglossia and bilingualism as two phenomena which in certain contexts may overlap.

References

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Information

Information: Studia Linguistica Universitatis Iagellonicae Cracoviensis, 2012, Volume 129, Issue 3, pp. 199-209

Article type: Original article

Authors

University of Social Sciences, Warsaw, Poland; Chodakowska 19/31, Warszawa

Published at: 11.09.2012

Article status: Open

Licence: None

Percentage share of authors:

Agnieszka Stępkowska (Author) - 100%

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English

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