Definitions for dialect
ˈdaɪ əˌlɛktdi·alect

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.5 / 4 votes

1. dialect, idiom, accentnoun

   the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people

   "the immigrants spoke an odd dialect of English"; "he has a strong German accent"; "it has been said that a language is a dialect with an army and navy"

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 4 votes

1. dialectnoun

   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.

2. dialectnoun

   A dialect of a language perceived as substandard and wrong.

3. Etymology: From διάλεκτος, from διαλέγομαι, from διά + λέγω.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. DIALECTnoun

   Etymology: διάλεϰτος.

   1. The subdivision of a language; as the Attic, Doric, Ionic, Æolic dialects.2. Stile; manner of expression.

   When themselves do practise that whereof they write, they change their dialect; and those words they shun, as if there were in them some secret sting. Richard Hooker, b. v. s. 22.

   3. Language; speech.

   In her youth
   There is a prone and speechless dialect,
   Such as moves men. William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure.

   If the conferring of a kindness did not bind the person, upon whom it was conferred, to the returns of gratitude, why, in the universal dialect of the world, are kindnesses still called obligations? Robert South, Sermons.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dialect

   A dialect refers to a specific form of a language that is unique to a particular region or social group. It involves differences in pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary and syntax from the standard form of the language. Dialects can be based on geographical areas, socioeconomic groups, age groups, ethnic groups, or other communities.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 2 votes

1. Dialectnoun

   means or mode of expressing thoughts; language; tongue; form of speech

2. Dialectnoun

   the form of speech of a limited region or people, as distinguished from ether forms nearly related to it; a variety or subdivision of a language; speech characterized by local peculiarities or specific circumstances; as, the Ionic and Attic were dialects of Greece; the Yorkshire dialect; the dialect of the learned

WikidataRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Dialect

   The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors, such as social class. A dialect that is associated with a particular social class can be termed a sociolect, a dialect that is associated with a particular ethnic group can be termed as ethnolect, and a regional dialect may be termed a regiolect or topolect. The other usage refers to a language that is socially subordinate to a regional or national standard language, often historically cognate to the standard, but not a variety of it or in any other sense derived from it. A framework was developed in 1967 by Heinz Kloss, Ausbau-, Abstand- and Dach-sprache, to describe speech communities, that while unified politically and/or culturally, include multiple dialects which though closely related genetically may be divergent to the point of inter-dialect unintelligibility. A dialect is distinguished by its vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. Where a distinction can be made only in terms of pronunciation, the term accent is appropriate, not dialect. Other speech varieties include: standard languages, which are standardized for public performance; jargons, which are characterized by differences in lexicon; slang; patois; pidgins or argots.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. Dialect

   dī′a-lekt, n. a variety or form of a language peculiar to a district: a non-literary vernacular: a peculiar manner of speaking.—adj. Dialect′al.—adv. Dialect′ally.—ns. Dialect′icism; Dialectol′ogist; Dialectol′ogy. [Through Fr. and L. from Gr. dialektos, speech, manner of speech, peculiarity of speech—dia, between, legein, to speak.]

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. dialect

   An expression of language.

   Dialect varies across different countries.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on March 12, 2020  

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Dialect

   Language vs. Dialect -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Language and Dialect.

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Anagrams for dialect »

1. citadel

2. deltaic

3. edictal

4. lactide

How to pronounce dialect?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say dialect in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of dialect in Chaldean Numerology is: 3

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of dialect in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of dialect in a Sentence

1. Joshua Landis:

   Many of them are from rural Ethiopia, they speak Amharic and dialect, the vast majority were very slow to learn Hebrew because they were older. The younger generation does, but even 50 % of the younger generation don't graduate from high school.

2. Dave Woodyard:

   You lose languages, you lose dialect, you lose understanding, they've been through a very difficult process.

3. Lo Cascio:

   Dialect came to my aid, it is closer to feelings, to emotions, a spectator should be able to be carried along even if they don't understand every letter.

4. Thomas Hardy:

   Dialect words are those terrible marks of the beast to the truly genteel.

5. Arthur Koestler:

   When a person identifies himself with a group his critical faculties are diminished and his passions enhanced by a kind of emotive resonance. The individual is not a killer, the group is, and by identifying with it, the individual becomes one. This is the infernal dialect reflected in man's history.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=dialect
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Dialect
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=dialect
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dialect
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=dialect
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=dialect
8. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=dialect