Editing Demotic Greek (section)

{{short description|Vernacular form of Modern Greek}}
{{Distinguish|Demotic (Egyptian)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Use Oxford spelling|date = December 2024}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2012}}

'''Demotic Greek''' ({{langx|el|Δημοτική Γλώσσα}}, {{Transliteration|el|Dimotikí Glóssa}}, {{IPA|el|ðimotiˈci ˈɣlo.sa|}}, {{Lit|language of the people}}) is the standard spoken language of Greece in modern times and, since the resolution of the [[Greek language question]] in 1976, the official language of Greece.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Demotic-Greek-language|title=Demotic Greek language|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2020-04-16}}</ref> "Demotic Greek" (with a capital D) contrasts with the conservative [[Katharevousa]], which was used in formal settings, during the same period. In that context, Demotic Greek describes the specific non-standardized [[vernacular]] forms of Greek used by the vast majority of Greeks during the 19th and 20th centuries.<ref>{{cite book|last=Babiniotis|first=Georgios|title=Lexiko tis neas ellinikis glossas|year=2002|location=Athens|page=474|language=Greek|trans-title=Dictionary of the new Greek language}}</ref>

As is typical of [[Diglossia|diglossic]] situations, Katharevousa and Demotic complemented and influenced each other. Over time, Demotic became standardized. In 1976, it was made the official language of Greece.  It continued to evolve and is now called [[Standard Modern Greek]]. The term "demotic Greek" (with a minuscule d) also refers to any variety of the [[Greek language]] which has evolved naturally from [[Ancient Greek]] and is popularly spoken.