Academic Paper from the year 2019 in the subject Speech Science / Linguistics, grade: A, Kenyatta University, language: English, abstract: Multiple varieties of languages co-exist in a complex interrelationship where the society assigns them different tasks. In 1959, Charles Ferguson provided a comprehensive diglossicview of bilingualism by building on the various domains which are essential in macro-analysis of the functional distributions within the speech communities (Ferguson, 1959). These communities are characterized two or more languages used in intra-societal communications. Diglossia is generally defined as a situation where two different language varieties are spoken with the same speech community (Fishman et al., 1982). On the other hand, bilingual diglossia is a situation where one language variety is used in writing while another one is used in speech. Today, diglossia is one of the most important elements in the study of societal multilingualism. Based on Ferguson’s argument, diglossia can be described as a special kind of bilingualism where two co-existing linguistic codes that have different status in the society compete. Use of these language varieties relies on the circumstance (Crystal, 2010). Each the language variety must have a clearly defined role. For example, standard language mainly in formal contexts while a specific dialectal form is used in low functions such as family and social gatherings. Studies observed that the concept of diglossia can be observed in the case of language use in China. In support of this observation, the author reviewed the concepts diglossia, language maintenance, language shift and reversing language shift in general and in relation to a specific case of Inner Mongolia, China.

Academic Paper from the year 2019 in the subject Speech Science / Linguistics, grade: A, Kenyatta University, language: English, abstract: Multiple varieties of languages co-exist in a complex interrelationship where the society assigns them different tasks. In 1959, Charles Ferguson provided a comprehensive diglossicview of bilingualism by building on the various domains which are essential in macro-analysis of the functional distributions within the speech communities (Ferguson, 1959). These communities are characterized two or more languages used in intra-societal communications. Diglossia is generally defined as a situation where two different language varieties are spoken with the same speech community (Fishman et al., 1982). On the other hand, bilingual diglossia is a situation where one language variety is used in writing while another one is used in speech. Today, diglossia is one of the most important elements in the study of societal multilingualism. Based on Ferguson's argument, diglossia can be described as a special kind of bilingualism where two co-existing linguistic codes that have different status in the society compete. Use of these language varieties relies on the circumstance (Crystal, 2010). Each the language variety must have a clearly defined role. For example, standard language mainly in formal contexts while a specific dialectal form is used in low functions such as family and social gatherings. Studies observed that the concept of diglossia can be observed in the case of language use in China. In support of this observation, the author reviewed the concepts diglossia, language maintenance, language shift and reversing language shift in general and in relation to a specific case of Inner Mongolia, China.

This book is about the theory and practice of assistance to speech-communities whose native languages are threatened because their intergenerational continuity is proceeding negatively, with fewer and fewer speakers (or readers, writers and even understanders) every generation.

A comprehensive discussion of the key aspects of this important sub-field of language contact and multilingualism studies.

Describes a variety of language contact settings in which one or more languages are in a process of shift. Theoretical perspectives are presented, followed by linguistic, sociological and descriptive studies of languages and countries that have attracted the interest of researchers before.

How does a language community sustain their language in the face of ever-increasing forces of language shift? This volume, both a textbook and a handbook, is the result of ten years of reflection by the authors in light of SIL International’s 80 years of fieldwork in local language communities. Using the Sustainable Use Model detailed here, readers learn how to advise maintaining use of their language at a sustainable level. This could include, not only the level of active literacy, but also levels of orality and identity. The book is aimed at “on the ground” workers involved with a community, to address issues arising from language and culture contact. M. Paul Lewis (Ph.D., sociolinguistics, Georgetown University) did fieldwork in Guatemala, was general editor of the Ethnologue®, and is a Sociolinguistics Consultant with SIL. His research interests are language endangerment, language policy and planning, and language documentation. He has consulted and trained on six continents. Gary F. Simons (Ph.D., linguistics, Cornell University) is Chief Research Officer for SIL and Executive Editor of the Ethnologue®. He was involved in language development in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, co-founder of the Open Language Archives Community (OLAC), and co-developer of the ISO 639-3 identifiers for the world’s languages. "In this clearly written monograph, Lewis and Simons lay the groundwork for those who [work] with members of local language communities, to help them implement diverse activities that most effectively lead to a sustainable level of language use. They build appropriately upon the groundbreaking work that was carried out several decades ago by sociolinguists such as Charles Ferguson, Robert Cooper, and Joshua Fishman." - Adapted from the Foreword by G. Richard Tucker