Language vs Dialect
Many people find the distinction between language and dialect confusing, as these two terms are closely related. Language refers to a form of communication used by humans through sounds, while dialect is a specific form of a language found in a particular region. In other words, a dialect is a subset of a language.
What does Language mean?
Language is the way of expressing thoughts through articulate sounds. It is not enough to have thoughts; these thoughts must be communicated using meaningful sounds, which form a language. The Oxford English Dictionary defines language as “the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way.”
What does Dialect mean?
Dialect, on the other hand, is a form of a language spoken in specific parts of the world. The Oxford English Dictionary defines dialect as “a particular form of a language which is peculiar to a specific region or social group.” For instance, Greek is the primary language of the Greek group of languages, and the languages such as Doric, Attic, and Ionic associated with the Greek group are considered dialects of that group.
Various groups of languages belonging to different families are divided into dialects. There are several groups of languages, such as the Aryan group, Greek group, Germanic group, Latin or Italian group, Balto-Slavonic group, Armenian group, and others. All these languages fall under the Primitive Indo-European family, also known as the Indo-Germanic family. Each group within this family is further divided into several dialects. Linguists often view dialects as impure forms of the main or principal languages.
Dialects are commonly associated with rural areas in certain countries and are known as geographic or regional dialects, which are not spoken in urban areas. However, it is essential to note that there are also city dialects that distinguish speakers from different parts of a city.
What is the difference between Language and Dialect?
- Language is the mode of expression of thought through articulate sounds.
- Dialect is a form of any language spoken in specific parts of the world.
- A dialect is a subset of a language.
- Linguists often view dialects as impure forms of the main or principal languages.
- There are two types of dialects: geographic/regional dialects and social dialects.
Key Takeaways
- Language is a form of communication using sounds, while dialect is a specific form of a language found in a particular region.
- Dialects are often considered impure forms of the main or principal languages.
- There are two types of dialects: geographic/regional dialects and social dialects.
