ABSTRACT
Diglossia may develop from various origins and eventuate in different language situations. For convenience of reference the superposed variety in diglossias will be called the H (‘high’) variety or simply H, and the regional dialects will be called L (‘low’) varieties or, collectively, simply L. One of the most important features of diglossia is the specialization of function for H and L. In one set of situations only H is appropriate and in another only L, with the two sets overlapping only very slightly. In every one of the defining languages there is a sizable body of written literature in H which is held in high esteem by the speech community, and contemporary literary production in H by members of the community is felt to be part of this otherwise existing literature. Diglossia seems to be accepted and not regarded as a ‘problem’ by the community in which it is in force, until certain trends appear in the community.
