Dialect

Dialect is a specific form of a language that is particular to a specific region or social group. This term, dialect, is derived from the Ancient Greek word dialektos "discourse", from dia "through" + legein "to speak". In the field of linguistics, a dialect is perceived as an idiosyncratic form of a language, spoken by a specific subgroup, often within a particular geographical area.

Overview

The dialect of a language can be classified into two main categories: regional dialects and social dialects. Regional dialects are spoken by people living in a particular geographical area, while social dialects are spoken by a particular social group.

Characteristics

Dialects often have distinct phonetic, grammatical, and vocabulary differences from the standard language. They may also have unique features in terms of pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Some dialects may be so different from the standard language that they are considered separate languages.

Dialect vs. Language

The distinction between a dialect and a language is often blurred and is more of a social and political matter than a strictly linguistic one. In some cases, what is considered a dialect of one language may be considered a separate language in another context.

Dialect Continuum

A dialect continuum or dialect chain is a series of dialects spoken across a particular region, with differences between neighboring dialects being relatively small, but differences increasing with geographical distance.

Examples of Dialects

Examples of dialects include the Scots dialect of English, the Cockney dialect of English spoken in London, and the Sicilian dialect of Italian.

See Also

• Accent (linguistics)
• Idiolect
• Sociolect
• Multilingualism

References

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Dialect

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  Diagram of West Germanic dialects