Idiolect (Noun)
Meaning
The language or speech of one individual at a particular period in life.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The linguist studied the idiolect of a child to track changes in language development over time.
- Her idiolect was unique due to being the only one in her family to speak with that distinct accent.
- Understanding a person's idiolect can sometimes be challenging, especially if they use a lot of slang or colloquialisms.
- Studying a historical figure's idiolect can be insightful in understanding their culture and socio-economic background.
- The dialect of a region often evolves from the idiolect of influential people such as politicians or artists.