English Explanatory Dictionary

topolect

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The speech form, variety (lect) of a particular place or region.
  2. A regional variety of Chinese; especially a lect other than Standard Mandarin.

Word forms

topolect topolects

Etymology

Combination of topo- (“place”) + -lect (“[language] variety”). Attested since the 1960s, but rare until its introduction by sinologist Victor Mair in 1991 to distinguish Chinese 方言 (fāngyán) from English dialect.

Synonyms

geolect regiolect regionalect fangyan

Related words

chronolect dialect

Derived words

topolectal
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