What Is The Difference Between A Language And A Dialect

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Languages are the greatest communication tool of humans for ages and with evolutions and developments, every different human community has its languages and dialects. 

But, What is the difference between a language and a dialect? Have you ever thought like that!!.. Then here you are going to learn about the differences and lots more which will give you insights to learn about languages, as a learner. Language & Dialect are the same things. Because both are the tools of a particular communication system of any country or culture. But both have different natures. There is a common difference between a language and a dialect; language has its standardized format like grammar, syntax, and Etiquette, and the most visible influential term is its ‘Script’ or a written form and its users could be spread globally. The best part is, a Language has so many Dialects. 

While a dialect lacks a standardized format. It doesn’t have Grammar, script, rules, syntax, or any formulas. Dialects may be available in conversation forms but not in written forms that’s why it’s a regional conversation tool. 

Sub-language:

when a dialect is developed with its own written format or script, then it’s called a sublanguage. 

example: In India, the Punjabi language has its script name ‘Gurumukhi’. Nepali has its own written format. 

But, whenever a Dialect gets some more edge than other dialects of the same language family then this particular dialect becomes a Language. 

What are those edge and progressive factors which make a dialect a language? As a learner, with the interest of learning a second language here we can see the three most Influential factors for why and how a dialect becomes a language. 

Geographical Expansion:

This is when a dialect expands its area because of certain reasons. If the speakers of a particular dialect increase by migration, trading, or by gaining popularity a dialect increases its geographical boundaries and that dialect also becomes a connecting language between other dialect speakers, it becomes a big conversation tool for the people of a broader area. 

Colonial Expansion is also a huge reason for a particular dialect to become a language. In history, there are so many examples where a local dialect spread because invaders brought their language to a new land, and it dominated the native language of the captured land.
Ex: French invasion of African lands expanded the French language in African countries.

Literature Influence:

When the literature develops in a particular dialect, it helps to strengthen the language or dialect. 

The literature contains books, poetries, and novels and the regular presentation of all the literature makes a dialect strong, and it pushes its development to level up a standard version of the particular dialect. Literature upgrades a language and in return, the language also develops its literature. This system develops a dialect and with time it becomes a wealthy tool of communication and a Language. 

Movies are also an influential factor in the development and expansion of a language because it entertains the masses and could be presentable anywhere with the help of technology. 

Ex: English movies from the USA and England have global audiences while other languages don’t have mass appeal. 

Political Influence:

• This is the most important reason why a dialect becomes a language. 

In Human history, Since ages, political powers and governments control people and their lands with various tools. Language is the most important tool for the government or any monarch to influence the masses. 

China is a geographically vast and diverse nation with many varieties of cultures and dialects. For the unification of China, the government decided to run the country by one language which was a dialect named Mandarin. That’s how Mandarin became the official language of China in the 1930s.

When Israel was formed as a country, they decided to develop their

language Hebrew. For that purpose, they standardized their old language and made Hebrew the national language of the newly established Jewish country. 

Filipino is the official language of the Philippines, and it’s because in the past the Philippines government chose this dialect from the eight dialects of the country. 

In India, Hindi is the most dominant language in its northern part, and it’s also a connecting language for most Indian states. 

Most of the north Indian languages are rooted in the ancient Vedic language Sanskrit. Before the seventeenth century, Hindi was not used as a mass language in north India like today, but it developed the form of a dialect ‘Khari boli’. khari boli dialect was existing with two other languages named braj bhasha and awadhi but due to developments in the works of literature of khari boli. The poets, scholars, and some saints promoted khari boli, and it also evolved through some political and freedom movements of the seventeenth century against the British colonial expansions. That’s how Hindi started its expansion and developed its standard format and today it’s a beautiful language of India with its standard format. And now, speakers of Hindi are spread globally. 

In human history, Language is an emotional thing for the native speakers of any language. Psychologically, language is a very influential term for the speaker. That’s how it’s called ‘mother tongue’ by the native speakers in the area. 

For a language, the native speakers could start any movement, or they can start a revolution too. So many new states of India and other countries are made or bifurcated based on dialects and languages. 

Because of its influential properties, Many rulers used it to unite or to divide masses, and by this way of controlling, the languages are a tool for any ruler and as a result, many Dialects of smaller regions become a standard Language for the different parts of the world due to its politically influential powers.

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Conclusion:

As we learned Languages are the most powerful tools in human history by their social, political, and psychologically influencing properties but the difference between language & dialect doesn’t mean that one of them is superior or inferior, but both are equal communication mediums for humans. The language becomes a widely used conversation tool, while the dialect always holds the potential of becoming a Language in the future by its evolution.

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