Demotic Greek ( , "[language] of the people") or
dimotiki is the
modern vernacular form of the
Greek language. The term has been in use since 1818.
Demotic refers particularly to the form of the language that evolved naturally from
Ancient Greek, in opposition to the artificially archaic
Katharevousa, which was the official standard until 1976. The two complemented each other in a typical example of
diglossia until the resolution of the
Greek language question in favour of Demotic.