subdialect

8.6

A local form of a dialect spoken in a small area

noun
/ˈsʌbˌdaɪəˌlɛkt/

Specialized

: subdialecto

Linguists study the subdialect to better understand the local culture and history.

Examples

In the village, the elderly speak a subdialect that has distinct phrases and pronunciations.
The region is known for its unique subdialect, which includes words not found in the standard language.
Finally, there are numerous subdialects of each of the four main dialects.

Academic text (2004)
(It had the advantages, too, of being more inclusive of non-Ashkenazi Jews and of sidestepping rivalries between various Ashkenazi subdialects.)

Academic text (2009)

Synonyms

dialect

vssubdialect

57 4.8

A form of language used in one area or group with its own words, grammar, and sounds

is a narrower subdivision inside that broader language form

local dialect

vssubdialect

2 7.4

A way of speaking used by people in one area

is a smaller, more specific variety within that regional speech

How Local

language

∞ 1.0

dialect

57 4.8

subdialect

Specialized

8.6

idiolect

Specialized

1 9.9

Surface Forms

subdialect singular

subdialects plural

Morphology

subdialect = dialect (transparent) = sub + dialect + sub

The meaning is directly derived from the productive prefix 'sub-' (meaning subordinate/smaller) plus 'dialect', yielding 'a smaller or subordinate variety', which is straightforward for learners.

Etymology

Subdialect comes from the prefix sub- meaning 'under' or 'smaller', like in subway, and dialect meaning 'a local way of speaking'. So a subdialect is a smaller, very local form of a dialect, often used in one town or area.