Diglossia in Arabic: Views and Opinions

Abstract

Diglossia is a situation in which two languages or two varieties of the same language are used under different conditions within a community, often by the same speakers. Linguists vary in their views regarding diglossia, especially when it comes to diglossia in Arabic. Some view it as a sign of disloyalty to the standard variety of Arabic (Alfusha), and that it leads to deepening the gap between Arabs in different countries, while other see it as a unifying element. In order to eliminate the effect of diglossia, a political as well as a linguistic solution are needed. Linguistics and language academies should work together to bridge the gap between dialects and adopt a single standard variety to be used in schools and in the media. Such a decision should be politically supported.