bidialectalism (n.)

In its most general sense, a term which refers to proficiency by a person or a community in the use of two DIALECTS of a language, whether regional or social; also called bidialectism. Several kinds of bidialectal situation have been studied, one of the best known being the switching from a casual to a FORMAL VARIETY of speech (DIGLOSSIA). More specifically, it is a principle propounded in SOCIOLINGUISTICS and EDUCATIONAL LINGUISTICS wherein different dialects are attributed equal linguistic validity and recommended for use in their appropriate social settings. The principle is of particular importance in relation to educational policy in schools, where the differences between the non-standard and the STANDARD forms of a language can lead to considerable conflict. Bidialectalism recommends that both non-standard and standard dialects should be encouraged in the educational process, along with the fostering of children’s abilities to use CODE-switching, thus developing a greater degree of understanding and control over the varieties of their language than would otherwise be the case.