A regional or social variety of a language, distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, and/or vocabulary.
Here are some key aspects of dialects:
* Mutual Intelligibility: Dialects of the same language are usually mutually intelligible, meaning speakers can understand each other, even if they use slightly different words or pronunciations.
* Geographical & Social Factors: Dialects are often associated with specific geographic areas (e.g., Southern American English) or social groups (e.g., African American Vernacular English).
* No "Standard" Dialect: There's no universally accepted standard dialect, although some dialects might be considered more prestigious or widely spoken.
* Continuum: Dialects often exist along a continuum, with gradual changes in language features from one region to another.
Here are some other meanings of "dialect":
* A specialized language used by a particular group, such as a profession or hobby. (e.g., the dialect of medicine or computer programming)
* A language that is considered less prestigious than a standard language. (e.g., some consider certain dialects of English to be less standard than others)
It's important to note that the word "dialect" can sometimes be used in a way that is considered prejudiced or discriminatory, especially when applied to languages spoken by minority groups. It's always best to be mindful of the potential for harmful connotations when using the term.