A dialect is a unique and distinguishable combination of vocabulary, pronunciation and syntax. Technically speaking from a linguistic perspective, the only difference between a language and a dialect is that a language is usually standardized. A language is a dialect that has gained a recognized, official status. 

This admittedly racist ad from the 1950s uses a dialect from the American South that has a unique use of vocabulary, pronunciation and syntax. It reads"

"I'se in town honey! Happy days is here! Time fo' dee-licious Aunt Jemima's - made with my secret recipe - ready-mixed fo' you!"

The word 'honey' for example is characteristic of this region, social class and ethnic group. The pronunciation of 'for' as 'fo' and the non-standard grammar of 'I'se' are also both characteristic of this dialect.

Related Lessons

• Pikey English
• Black English and Disney
• Why speak differently?
• Black and white