topolect

Meanings

Noun

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

Origin / 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

fangyan, geolect, regiolect, regionalect

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