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dialecte

dialect

noun dyah-LEKT Rare

Origin: Greek dialektos (manner of speech, local language)

Usage Note

Dialecte refers to a regional variety of a language, such as the dialectes of Occitan or Norman French. Linguists in France distinguish between dialecte (a variety with its own grammar) and patois (a more informal, often pejorative term for local speech). The adjective dialectal ('dialectal') is common in academic writing about regional language variation.

Examples

"Ce dialecte est encore parlé dans les villages."

Natural Translation

This dialect is still spoken in the villages.

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