dialect
noun
Derivatives
- adverb
adjective
Origin:
mid 16th century (denoting the art of investigating the truth of opinions): from French dialecte, or via Latin from Greek dialektos 'discourse, way of speaking', from dialegesthai 'converse with' (see dialogue)
Grammar
A version of a language spoken in a particular geographical area or by a particular group of people. The English spoken in Newcastle is different from that spoken by natives of North Cornwall. Not only do speakers in these two areas have a different accent, they also use a number of different words. Different dialects also use slightly different grammar, too. For example, in Devon some people say ‘They do have …’ in preference to ‘They have …’ Such regional expressions are not ‘wrong’, they simply differ from standard English. They are sometime described as ‘non-standard’.