dialectal Hear it!

Variant of dialect

dialect Definition

dia·lect (dī′ə lekt′)

noun

  1. the sum total of local characteristics of speech
  2. Rare the sum total of an individual's characteristics of speech; idiolect
  3. popularly any form of speech considered as deviating from a real or imaginary standard speech
  4. Linguis.
    1. a form or variety of a spoken language, including the standard form, peculiar to a region, community, social group, occupational group, etc.: in this sense, dialects are regarded as being, to some degree, mutually intelligible while languages are not mutually intelligible
    2. any language as a member of a group or family of languages English is a West Germanic dialect

Etymology: L dialectus < Gr dialektos, discourse, discussion, dialect < dialegesthai, to discourse, talk < dia, between (see dia-) + legein, to choose, talk (see logic)

adjective

of or in a dialect dialect ballads

Related Forms:

dialectal Synonyms

dialectal

modif.

regional, local, provincial, limited, dialectical, colloquial, vernacular, idiomatic, indigenous, rural, geographically restricted, socially restricted, nonstandard, not generally accepted, not generally in use; see also colloquial, local 1.