While some have used the term LANGUAGE and DIALECT interchangeably, others have used them separately. Some believe language and dialect are the same, others believe they are utterly different while some believe there is a thin line that separates the two concepts even though they are inextricably intertwined.

My position here that no matter how these two concepts in Linguistics are related, there are still some significant factors that show that language and dialect are different entities.

♦A language is wider in size and range, while a dialect is confined to a particular region.

♦A language is used in a greater number of functions like law, military, science, corporate world, education, and beaurucracy, while dialect is confined often to social and interpersonal functions.

♦A language is codified in formal writing, grammar and dictionaries while dialect is often not.

♦A language has an official status, while a dialect DOESNOT have.

♦A language has an elevated status and more prestigious than a dialect.

However, some of the points raised above can be contested. Share your thoughts here and let us have a robust discussion.