dialect Definition
a form of a language spoken in a particular geographical area or by members of a particular social group, differing from other forms of the same language in some grammar and vocabulary.
Using dialect: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "dialect" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The Scottish dialect is different from the English dialect.
Example
The dialect spoken in the southern United States is different from that spoken in the northern states.
Example
The dialect of the working class is often different from that of the upper class.
dialect Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for dialect
Antonyms for dialect
- standard language
- formal language
Phrases with dialect
Example
The regional dialects of Italy are very diverse.
social dialect
a dialect spoken by a particular social group
Example
The social dialect of African Americans is often referred to as Ebonics.
a range of dialects spoken across a geographical area, with each dialect being mutually intelligible with the dialects immediately surrounding it, but not necessarily with those at either end of the continuum
Example
The dialect continuum of the Romance languages stretches from Portugal to Romania.
Origins of dialect
from Greek 'dia-' meaning 'through' + 'lektos' meaning 'spoken'
Summary: dialect in Brief
A 'dialect' [ˈdaɪəlekt] is a form of a language spoken in a specific geographic area or by a particular social group, characterized by differences in grammar and vocabulary. Examples include the Scottish dialect and the dialects of the working and upper classes. 'Dialect' can be further categorized into 'regional dialect,' 'social dialect,' and 'dialect continuum.'
