DIGLOSSIA AND BILINGUALISM

A.    DIGLOSSIA

Diglossia is a were tied to a social statification i a certain region, so while you can say poeple are multi language in a certain area. Diglossia refers to a situation in which two different languages are spoken by the members of one community. It also applies to a situation in which members of a community speak a different dialect or derivative of the same language. The application of diglossia to such communities is the fact that one language is official or recognized, while the other is not. Even though the other language is not official, it is still widely spoken by some members of the community, in addition to the official language.

The official language is called :

·         The “high” language    -> Communities use the high language in official capacities like writing, teaching and speaking at official or formal functions.

·         The “low” language     -> The low language is the common language spoken by the members of the community in a wide variety of settings.

Example :

·         In British colony.

The official language is English (high language) -> is the main language.

The other language is Yoruba language (low language) ->for members of the Yoruba-speaking community.

·         In javanesse there are three level of diglossia

1.      High level (krama), it’s use in formal situation, or used to talk to people who are older. Ex: “Panjenengan bade dahar menapa?”

2.      Middle level (madya), it’s use in neutral situation.

Ex: “Sampeyan ajeng nedha napa?”

3.      Low level (ngoko), it’s used in relative situation.

Ex: “Kowe arep mangan opo?”

                        One of the effects of diglossia is the way in which it serves as a tool for interpersonal communication and social classification. The low language is almost always relegated to the background and is considered less important that the high language. Those who are proficient in the low language may be considered illiterate or of a lower social class if they do not understand or know how to speak the high language.

B.     BILINGUALISM

Bilingualism is the ability to speak two languages and the use of two languages, as in a community (the habitual use of two languages). The more people that have capacity and facility two language, and learn more than two language. It’s called multilanguage (the ability to speak more than two languages.

Bilingualism exists as a possession of an individual. It is also possible to talk about bilingualism as a characteristic of a group or community of people or country. Bilingualism consists of two different languages; the main (first) language and second laguage.

The example of bilingualism:

·         In India

The main language is Hindi language.

The second language is English language.

·         In Indonesia

The main language is Indonesia language.

The second language is culture language.

There are many advantages of bilingualism;

·         Being able to learn new words easily

·         Being able to use information in new ways

·         Putting words into categories

·         Coming up with solutions to problems

·         Good listening skills

·         Connecting with others  cultures, other people and other points of view

·         More precocious readers, and generally find it easier to learn other languages, and more.

C.     SUMMARY

1.      Diglossia -> the same language but different dialect.

2.      Dialect is a form of a language spoken in a particular geographical area or by members of a particular social class or occupational group, distinguished by its vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

3.      Bilingualism -> the ability to speak two languages, consist of two different language.