Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
What is the difference between a language and a dialect?
Position2 of 2

Languages and dialects can be defined

This position holds that languages and dialects can be meaningfully distinguished. It argues that both linguistic factors — such as mutual intelligibility — and sociopolitical ones, like national status and standardisation, can be used to draw a workable line between a language and a dialect.

Supporting arguments · 2

  1. We can make a sociopolitical distinction between languages and dialects
    The difference between a dialect and a language can be explained both historically and currently with political and social factors.
  2. We can make a Linguistic distinction between languages and dialects
    The difference between a language and a dialect can be explained using several linguistic guidelines as well as recent scientific evidence.