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Idiolect vs Topolect - What's the difference?

idiolect | topolect |

As nouns the difference between idiolect and topolect

is that idiolect is (linguistics) the language variant used by a specific individual while topolect is a set of similar dialects that pertain to a larger distinct regional dialect.

idiolect

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (linguistics) The language variant used by a specific individual.

    • Derived terms

    * idiolectic * idiolectical

    Related terms

    * dialect * ecolect * ethnolect * sociolect

    topolect

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A set of similar dialects that pertain to a larger distinct regional dialect.
    • Dialects found in both Hangzhou and Shanghai belong to the Wu topolect .