Bermel, N.H. (2014) Czech Diglossia: Dismantling or Dissolution? In: Arokay, J., Gvozdanovic, J. and Miyajima, D., (eds.) Divided Languages? Diglossia, Translation and the Rise of Modernity in Japan, China, and the Slavic World. Transcultural Research – Heidelberg Studies on Asia and Europe in a Global Context . Springer Science & Business Media , 21 - 37 . ISBN 3319035215
Abstract
This contribution looks at two trends in the evolution of Czech diglossia over the past hundred years that can be described as the ‘dismantling’ and ‘dissolution’ of the diglossic language situation. Dismantling concerns official attempts to reach a ‘rapprochement’ between H and L by modifying the prescribed description of H to incorporate elements from L. Dissolution concerns unofficial changes resulting from societal upheaval and technological advances that have caused a blurring between public and private space and between the formal and informal spheres. The evident retreat of the H code, ‘Literary Czech,’ calls into question the extent to which Ferguson’s classic definitions still apply in the Czech lands. Official changes have attempted to maintain the functionality and prestige of H, but have frequently merely enriched H with previously proscribed features of the dominant L code, ‘Common Czech.’ Unofficial changes have seen L expand into domains that were previously the exclusive preserve of H. Attitudes characteristic of diglossic language situations continue to sustain the distinction, while the actual functional uses of the two varieties has already departed substantially from a diglossic language situation.
Metadata
Item Type: | Book Section |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Editors: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2013 Springer |
Keywords: | Language Arts & Disciplines |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (Sheffield) > School of Languages and Cultures (Sheffield) > Russian Studies (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 06 May 2015 14:27 |
Last Modified: | 10 May 2015 08:39 |
Published Version: | http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319... |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Springer Science & Business Media |
Series Name: | Transcultural Research – Heidelberg Studies on Asia and Europe in a Global Context |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1007/978-3-319-03521-5 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:84904 |