The phenomenon of bilingualism. Languages in contact

The coexistence of two languages in the same area may give rise to two linguistic phenomena: bilingualism and diglossia.

Diglossia

It is a cultural anthropological phenomenon in which a language more prestigious social and political, and dominates the other with which it coexists. Its uses are unbalanced and the second language, restricted to situations of family communication and colloquial, is in danger of being lost.
Traits that define the diglossia:
· · Function and prestige
· Acquisition: A language is learned and perfected in school and at home B
• The literary legacy: the scholarly literature is written in A, B are written in lower or no literary value

BILINGUALISM

This phenomenon occurs when two languages are used with ease and in combination at similar or comparable social situations, so both have the same social and cultural prestige. There are two types:

Individual bilingualism It corresponds to the person who has a level of proficiency in both languages. Bilinguals use language differently

Social Bilingualism It corresponds to a community in which the two languages have official recognition and nature.

In the Spanish state, both the Spanish constitution and the various statutes of autonomy recognized officially bilingual, but you have developed unevenly. In some areas requires greater standardization process, which is achieved through the development of institutions.

The monarchy in the eighteenth century, by imposing a single language for the entire state, just the co-existence between Iberian languages. He grew the situation of diglossia between Castilian and the other languages, which has caused serious social and cultural conflicts. The 1978 constitution, recognizing the official status of each of the languages in their respective communities together with Castilian, just this situation legally desigualdad.En today's world there are countless cases of countries that speak different lenguas.Conviene highlight a crucial fact of all contact between languages: the interference.