Ask Difference

Dialect vs. Colloquial — What's the Difference?

Dialect vs. Colloquial — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Dialect and Colloquial

ADVERTISEMENT

Compare with Definitions

Dialect

The term dialect (from Latin dialectus, dialectos, from the Ancient Greek word διάλεκτος, diálektos 'discourse', from διά, diá 'through' and λέγω, légō 'I speak') can refer to either of two distinctly different types of linguistic phenomena: a variety of a language that is characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. Under this definition, the dialects or varieties of a particular language are closely related and are often mutually intelligible, especially if close to one another on the dialect continuum.

Colloquial

(of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary
Colloquial and everyday language
Colloquial phrases

Dialect

A particular form of a language which is peculiar to a specific region or social group
The Lancashire dialect seemed like a foreign language

Colloquial

Characteristic of or appropriate to the spoken language or to writing that seeks the effect of speech; informal.

Dialect

A regional or social variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation, grammar, or vocabulary, especially a variety of speech differing from the standard literary language or speech pattern of the culture in which it exists
Cockney is a dialect of English.
ADVERTISEMENT

Colloquial

Relating to conversation; conversational.

Dialect

A variety of language that with other varieties constitutes a single language of which no single variety is standard
The dialects of Ancient Greek.

Colloquial

(linguistics) Characteristic of familiar conversation, of common parlance; informal.

Dialect

The language peculiar to the members of a group, especially in an occupation; jargon
The dialect of science.

Colloquial

Of or pertaining to a conversation; conversational or chatty.

Dialect

The manner or style of expressing oneself in language or the arts.

Colloquial

A colloquial word or phrase, colloquialism

Dialect

A language considered as part of a larger family of languages or a linguistic branch. Not in scientific use
Spanish and French are Romance dialects.

Colloquial

Pertaining to, or used in, conversation, esp. common and familiar conversation; conversational; hence, unstudied; informal; as, colloquial intercourse; colloquial phrases; a colloquial style.
His [Johnson's] colloquial talents were, indeed, of the highest order.

Dialect

A lect (often a regional or minority language) as part of a group or family of languages, especially if they are viewed as a single language, or if contrasted with a standardized idiom that is considered the 'true' form of the language (for example, Cantonese as contrasted with Mandarin Chinese or Bavarian as contrasted with Standard German).

Colloquial

Characteristic of informal spoken language or conversation;
Wrote her letters in a colloquial style
The broken syntax and casual enunciation of conversational English

Dialect

A variety of a language that is characteristic of a particular area, community, or social group, differing from other varieties of the same language in relatively minor ways as regards grammar, phonology, and lexicon.

Dialect

(pejorative) Language that is perceived as substandard or wrong.

Dialect

A language existing only in an oral or non-standardized form, especially a language spoken in a developing country or an isolated region.

Dialect

A variant of a non-standardized programming language.
Home computers in the 1980s had many incompatible dialects of BASIC.

Dialect

(ornithology) A variant form of the vocalizations of a bird species restricted to a certain area or population.

Dialect

Means or mode of expressing thoughts; language; tongue; form of speech.
This book is writ in such a dialectAs may the minds of listless men affect.Bunyan.The universal dialect of the world.

Dialect

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.
In the midst of this Babel of dialects there suddenly appeared a standard English language.
[Charles V.] could address his subjects from every quarter in their native dialect.

Dialect

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

Share Your Discovery

Share via Social Media
Embed This Content
Embed Code
Share Directly via Messenger
Link
Previous Comparison
Irritation vs. Annoy
Next Comparison
Leather vs. Cowhide

Popular Comparisons

Trending Comparisons

New Comparisons

Trending Terms