dialectology: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic/Technical
Quick answer
What does “dialectology” mean?
The scientific study of dialects, the regional or social varieties of a language.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The scientific study of dialects, the regional or social varieties of a language.
The branch of linguistics concerned with the systematic analysis and description of dialects, including their geographic distribution, historical development, phonological, grammatical, and lexical features, and their social functions.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The field is equally established in both academic traditions.
Connotations
Neutral, scholarly. In both varieties, it is a specialized term from linguistics.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse, but standard within university linguistics departments in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “dialectology” in a Sentence
[Subject] specializes in dialectology.Her thesis is on the dialectology of [Region].The book provides an introduction to dialectology.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dialectology” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She dialectologised the speech patterns of Norfolk. (rare, non-standard)
American English
- He is dialectologizing the Appalachian region. (rare, non-standard)
adverb
British English
- The data was analysed dialectologically. (highly technical)
American English
- He approaches the topic dialectologically. (highly technical)
adjective
British English
- The dialectological survey covered the entire county.
American English
- Her dialectological findings were published in a major journal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Standard term in linguistics departments, used in course titles, research papers, and conferences.
Everyday
Extremely rare; most non-specialists would not know the term.
Technical
Core term within the technical field of linguistics, specifically sociolinguistics and historical linguistics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dialectology”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dialectology”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dialectology”
- Confusing 'dialectology' (study) with 'dialect' (the object of study).
- Using it to mean simply 'having an accent'.
- Misspelling as 'dialectalogy'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They overlap significantly. Dialectology is often seen as a subfield of sociolinguistics, focusing specifically on geographic and social dialects, while sociolinguistics has a broader scope including language attitude, policy, and change.
No. While traditionally focused on rural areas, modern dialectology heavily studies urban dialects and the complex speech patterns of cities.
An accent refers only to pronunciation. A dialect includes distinct features of pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary. Dialectology studies all these aspects.
Not typically as a standalone degree. It is a specialization within a Linguistics, English Language, or Modern Languages degree at the undergraduate or (more commonly) postgraduate level.
The scientific study of dialects, the regional or social varieties of a language.
Dialectology is usually academic/technical in register.
Dialectology: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdaɪ.ə.lekˈtɒl.ə.dʒi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdaɪ.ə.lekˈtɑː.lə.dʒi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DIALECT + OLOGY (study of). It's literally 'the study of dialects'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE AS A LANDSCAPE (mapping dialects), SCIENCE AS EXPLORATION (charting linguistic territory).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary concern of dialectology?