Diglossia in scientific programs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)

Document Type : Language and Media

Author

Tehran: University of Tehran, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Department of Persian Language and Literature.

10.22082/cr.2026.2086323.2909
Abstract
This study examines patterns of using the scientific variety of Persian in medical discourse produced across different media formats. The main objective is to identify linguistic orientation and the extent of non-Persian lexical influence in the mindset of producers of scientific discourse, addressing whether health-related scientific discourse is Persian-centered or reflects a genuine form of diglossia. The statistical population consists of five textual corpora extracted from documentary and live television programs in the health domain.

The research adopts a mixed qualitative–quantitative corpus-based approach, analyzing Persian and non-Persian specialized terms in terms of frequency, type diversity, and distribution. The theoretical framework is grounded in the concepts of diglossia and linguistic orientation to investigate how specialized vocabulary is represented and functionally distributed. This framework enables a simultaneous assessment of Persianization and non-Persian lexical presence in media-based scientific production. Data analysis was conducted using statistical indicators including mean, standard deviation, outlier capping, and the likelihood ratio test (G²).

The findings indicate heterogeneous linguistic patterns across the corpora. While some discourses appear relatively Persian-oriented, others demonstrate features of functional Persian–non-Persian diglossia, where non-Persian technical terms play a structurally significant role rather than remaining limited to a few high-frequency items. Multilayered analysis of frequency, lexical diversity, and specialization shows that linguistic orientation emerges from the interaction of these factors, with media format and production context exerting a measurable influence.

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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 15 July 2026

  • Receive Date 24 February 2026
  • Revise Date 25 May 2026
  • Accept Date 30 May 2026