ABSTRACT
Wherever languages and dialects co-exist-wherever, that is, one sees multilingualism or multidialectalism-the elements of linguistic struggle are present. In some cases, the combatants are more equally matched than in others, and sometimes there are periods of more or less peaceful coexistence. But, as we have seen, contests do arise, and one form they often take, both between and within languages, is a prescriptive or puristic stance which, given free rein, would often lead to proscription.
