dialect
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Ancient Greek διάλεκτος (diálektos), “‘conversation, the language of a country or a place or a nation, the local idiom which derives from a dominant language’”), from διαλέγομαι (dialégomai), “‘I participate in a dialogue’”), from διά (diá), “‘inter, through’”) + λέγω (légō), “‘I speak’”).
[edit] Pronunciation
- IPA: /ˈdɑɪ.ə.ˌlɛkt/
- Audio (US)help, file
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
dialect (plural dialects)
- (linguistics) A variety of a language (specifically, often a spoken variety) that is characteristic of a particular area, community or group, often with relatively minor differences in vocabulary, style, spelling and pronunciation.
- A language is a dialect with an army and a navy.
[edit] Usage notes
- The difference between a language and a dialect is not always clear, but it is generally considered that people who speak different dialects can understand each other, while people who speak different languages cannot. Compare species in the biological sense.
[edit] Derived terms
[edit] Related terms
[edit] See also
[edit] Translations
variety of a language
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[edit] Anagrams
[edit] Dutch
[edit] Noun
dialect n.
