dijalekt

Dijalekt is a regional or social variety of a language, distinguished by differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, and sometimes grammar. Dialects are usually mutually intelligible with other varieties of the same language and often form a continuum rather than clearly separated languages. The term is used in many languages, including South Slavic languages, to describe the local ways people speak within a language.

The boundaries between dialect and standard language are not fixed. Differences among dialects can include phonetic shifts, distinct regional words, and minor grammatical variants such as verb endings or case forms. Dijalekts reflect historical development, contact with neighboring languages, and social factors. Because of these influences, some dialects may gradually change or converge with the standard variety, while others may diverge and gain prestige or unique identity.

Dialect classification is typically geographic (regional dialects) or social (sociolects), and many languages have multiple dialects with subdialects. In standard language regimes, the official or widely taught form often serves as the standard, used in education, media, and administration, while dialects continue to be spoken in daily life, culture, and local media. The study of dijalekts falls under sociolinguistics and historical linguistics, examining how language varieties evolve, influence each other, and reflect social identity.

Common examples include regional varieties within large languages, and in some regions, dialects have played a significant role in national or cultural identity. The term dijalekt is widely used across languages to denote these varieties, regardless of whether they are considered separate languages in other contexts.