A dialect is a particular form of a language that is specific to a region or social group. It includes distinctive vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, and it may be mutually intelligible with other dialects of the same language.

Examples include Cockney in London, Appalachian English in the United States, and Quebec French in Canada. Dialects are not inferior to standard languages; they are legitimate linguistic systems with their own rules. They can convey identity, history, and cultural belonging, and they are studied in sociolinguistics.

Key points

• Regional or social variety of a language
• Distinct vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation
• Not inferior to standard language
• Conveys identity and culture