Language
* Mutual intelligibility: A language is a system of communication that allows people to understand each other. This is the primary defining feature.
* Standardized: Languages typically have a recognized standard form (written and spoken) used in formal contexts like education, government, and media.
* Political and cultural significance: Language often plays a role in defining national identity and cultural boundaries.
* Independent: Languages are typically considered distinct and independent entities.
Dialect
* Regional or social variation: Dialects are variations of a language that arise from geographical location, social groups, or other factors.
* Partial mutual intelligibility: While speakers of different dialects of the same language may not understand each other perfectly, there is usually enough shared vocabulary and grammar for them to communicate with some effort.
* No official status: Dialects are not formally recognized as independent languages.
* Subordinate to a language: Dialects are considered variations *within* a larger language.
Example:
* Language: English
* Dialects: British English, American English, Australian English. Speakers of these dialects can generally understand each other, although there may be regional variations in pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar.
Key Points to Remember:
* The distinction between language and dialect can be blurry and subjective.
* Sometimes, a dialect can evolve into a separate language over time.
* Sociolinguistics is the study of how language varies based on social factors like class, ethnicity, and gender.
In simple terms: Think of language as the main dish and dialects as different flavorings of the same dish.