topolect

== English == === 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. === Noun === topolect (plural topolects) (linguistics, sociolinguistics) The speech form, variety (lect) of a particular place or region. Synonyms: geolect, regiolect, regionalect Coordinate term: see sociolect § Coordinate terms (linguistics) A regional variety of Chinese; especially a lect other than Standard Mandarin. Synonyms: fangyan, regionalect ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== chronolect dialect ==== Translations ==== === References ===