A Double-Nested Diglossia:
Analysing the Linear Polyglossic References in Hindi Bhasha
Dr. Sabitha S. Babu
ABSTRACT
Socio-political change plays a significant role in
shaping language communities and linguistic diversity. As languages
evolve across time and social contexts, speech communities develop
multiple linguistic varieties that reflect cultural, historical, and
communicative needs. Building on Charles A. Ferguson's concept of
diglossia and John Gumperz's notion of double-nested diglossia, this
study examines the polyglossic references embedded in Hindi Bhasha.
It analyses the sociolinguistic evolution of Pure Hindustani into
Baazari Hindustani through processes of phonetic change, lexical
borrowing, and syntactic restructuring driven by multilingual
interaction, trade, and urbanization. The study reorganizes
naturally occurring linguistic examples into a coherent taxonomy to
distinguish creolization from pidginization. Findings indicate that
the Hindi spoken in urban North India exhibits a double-nested
diglossic structure, shaped by the interaction between standardized
Hindi, regional dialects, educational practices, and media
influences. This linguistic convergence reflects the dynamic social
and cultural realities of multilingual communities while preserving
core Hindustani features. The proposed typology contributes to
understanding language variation, contact-induced change, and the
historical development of urban Hindi within a broader
sociolinguistic framework.
Keywords: Language Varieties, Hindustani, Diglossia, Double Nested
Diglossia, H and L languages.
