Dialect

Dialect, version of a language differing in some aspects of grammar, pronunciation, or vocabulary from other forms of the same language. A dialect restricted to a certain area or locale is a geographical dialect; one spoken by a specific group of people of a similar level of education, social class, or occupation is a social dialect. Some dialects are written and others are only spoken. The standard literary dialect of a language often was developed from a spoken dialect that was recorded by a talented writer or writers. Thus, the Tuscan dialect, employed with literary genius by the poets Dante Alighieri and Petrarch, dominated all other Italian dialects and became the written language of Italy. The High German dialect into which Martin Luther translated the Bible became standard German. The East Midland dialect of the poet Geoffrey Chaucer became the basis of the English language.

The English frequently refer to Americans as speaking the “American dialect,” while Americans further differentiate their speech into such regional dialects as New England, Midwestern, and Southern, as well as Appalachian, black English, Bostonian, and so forth.

Often the dividing line between dialects is difficult to establish. Dialects of a given language, however, are considered to be mutually intelligible. See also Language.