Resumen de Bilingualism and diglossia: patterns of language use by ethnic minorities in Tehran

Emilia Nercissians

• The patterns of language use by the speakers of Armenian as well as of the Azerbeijani-Turkish language in Tehran are outlined. It is sought to ®nd out how and why the choice of any linguistic code is favored by the members of a given community in di€erent situations. Certain reconceptualizations in diglossia theory are also suggested. It is argued that while the type of bilingualism and the extent of its association with diglossia varies from one community to the other, some common patterns can be found to form the basis of a model that can be applicable to diverse circumstances.