Explanation of Terminology

Speech Varieties

A Speech Variety is a collective name. In this site it may represent a language or a dialect, or it may be undetermined. Every speech variety is represented by a unique Speech Variety Code.

Languages

A language is defined in the Ethnologue based on the following critera.

Two related varieties are normally considered varieties of the same language if speakers of each variety have inherent understanding of the other variety at a functional level (that is, can understand based on knowledge of their own variety without needing to learn the other variety).
Where spoken intelligibiliby between varieties is marginal, the existance of a common literature or a strong ethnolinguistic identity with a central variety that both can understand can be a strong indicator that they should nevertheless be considered varieties of the same language.
Where there is enough intelligibility between varieties to enable communication, the existance of well extablished ethnolinguistic identities can be a strong indicator that they should nevertheless be considered to be different languages. Ethnologue 15th Edition page 8.

Each language is identified by a standardized three-letter code that has been defined and published as the ISO 639-3 International Standard. A description of each language is found in the Ethnologue.

A dialect is defined by the Registry Of Dialects (ROD) as a specific variety of a language that requires distinct media presentations (whether audio, video or print) in order to overcome barriers of understanding or acceptance. Determining factors may include differences in vocabulary, grammatical construction, idioms, and accents, as well as religious or social prejudices. Those speech varieties that qualify as dialects according to the above definition are identified with a ROD Code. In cases where a speech variety qualifies as a dialect, the ROD Code will be the same as the Speech Variety Code.

An old dialect coding system of ROPAL Codes has not been supported for several years. These codes have been replaced by ROD Dialect Codes, Speech Variety Codes, and ISO language codes. Please contact us if you need help in switching over to the new codes.

Undetermined Speech Varieties

Many names of speech varieties have been submitted to this site that purport to be either languages or dialects. However, they either do not fit the definitions given above; they may be an alternate name for another language or dialect; or they do not match with any known speech variety. In these cases, further research is needed. Once they have been clearly identified, they will be added to the Registry of Languages (ROL) or the Registry Of Dialects (ROD).