Language:
* Formal, standardized system: Languages are generally considered to have a written form, a set of rules for grammar and spelling, and recognized institutions that govern their use.
* Mutually unintelligible: Speakers of different languages typically cannot understand each other without learning each other's language.
* Political and social factors: Language is often tied to identity, nationality, and political boundaries.
* Examples: English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, French.
Dialect:
* Regional or social variation: Dialects are variations within a language, distinguished by pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and sometimes even sentence structure.
* Generally mutually intelligible: Speakers of different dialects of the same language can usually understand each other, though there may be some difficulty.
* Often not formally recognized: Dialects are not usually codified or standardized in the same way as languages.
* Examples: Southern American English, British English, Cockney English, Texan English.
The blurry line:
The distinction between language and dialect can be subjective and often depends on factors like:
* Political and social influence: A dialect can become a recognized language if it gains political and social significance.
* Mutual intelligibility: The degree of understanding between speakers of different variations can be subjective.
* Prestige and standardization: Dialects with higher prestige or that are standardized may be considered languages, while those with less prestige or that lack formal recognition may be considered dialects.
In essence, a dialect is a variety of a language, while a language is a complete system of communication.
Here are some helpful analogies:
* Imagine a tree: The language is the tree itself, and the dialects are the branches.
* Think of a family: The language is the family, and the dialects are the different family members with their unique personalities and speech patterns.
Ultimately, the distinction between language and dialect is often a matter of perspective and context.