diminutivedifference hypothesis n
see deficit hypothesis
differential item functioning n
a test item that functions differently either for or against a particular group
of test takers (e.g. those with Korean as their L1 or those with French as
their L1). A DIF item may be considered biased when a score difference
between two or more groups is due to a factor (e.g. test takers’ L1) that is
not the construct being tested (e.g. L2 listening comprehension).
difficulty index n
see item facility
difficulty order n
see accuracy order
difficulty parameter n
see b-parameter
digital divide n
the fact that those with access to technology have an unfair advantage over
those who do not.
diglossia n
when two languages or language varieties exist side by side in a community
and each one is used for different purposes, this is called diglossia. Usually,
one is a more standard variety called the High varietyor H-variety, which
is used in government, the media, education, and for religious services.
The other one is usually a non-prestige variety called the Low-varietyor
L-variety, which is used in the family, with friends, when shopping, etc.
An example of diglossia can be found in the German speaking part of
Switzerland, where the H(igh) variety is a form of standard German
(Hochdeutsch) and the L(ow) variety is called Schwyzertüütsch, which is a
range of regional Swiss dialects. Other countries where diglossia exists are,
for example, Haiti and the Arab nations.
see also bilingualism, multilingualism, code selection
diminutive n
(in morphology) a form which has an affixwith the meaning of “little”,
“small”, etc. For example, in Spanish –ito/-itain besito(“a little kiss”) and
mesita(“a little table”) or English, -let as in pigletand starlet, and -ling as
in duckling.