From Greek 'dialektos' (conversation) — narrowed to mean regional speech varieties, which the Greeks knew from their own.
A particular form of a language specific to a region or social group, differing from the standard language in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
From Latin 'dialectus,' borrowed from Greek 'diálektos' (διάλεκτος), meaning 'discourse, way of speaking, local speech.' This derives from 'dialégesthai' (διαλέγεσθαι), 'to discourse, converse,' composed of 'diá' (through, across) and 'légein' (to speak, to choose). The Greek word originally meant 'conversation' before
The famous quip 'a language is a dialect with an army and a navy' is usually attributed to linguist Max Weinreich, but he credited it to an audience member at one of his Yiddish lectures in 1945. The line captures a genuine linguistic truth: the distinction between 'language' and 'dialect' is often political rather than scientific.