dialectology

[ dahy-uh-lek-tol-uh-jee ]

noun

, plural di·a·lec·tol·o·gies

1. Linguistics. the study dealing with dialects and dialect features.
2. the linguistic features of a dialect or of the dialects of a language.

dialectology

/ ˌdaɪəˌlɛktəˈlɒdʒɪkəl; ˌdaɪəlɛkˈtɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the study of dialects and dialectal variations

Derived Forms

• ˌdiaˌlectoˈlogically, adverb
• ˌdialecˈtologist, noun
• dialectological, adjective

Other Words From

• di·a·lec·to·log·ic [dahy-, uh, -lek-tl-, oj, -ik], dia·lecto·logi·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dialectology¹

First recorded in 1875–80; dialect + -o- + -logy

Example Sentences

Unto the breach steps Edward McClelland’s “How to Speak Midwestern,” a dictionary wrapped in some serious dialectology inside a gift book trailing a serious whiff of Relevance.

From New York Times