basilect

basilect

English

Etymology

basi- +‎ -lect

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbæsɪlekt/, /ˈbeɪsɪlekt/

Noun

basilect (plural basilects)

1. (linguistics) A variety of a language that has diverged greatly from the standard form, and is only considered suitable for very informal contexts by speakers; opposed to acrolect and mesolect.
   • 1977, Joseph Twadell Shipley, In praise of English: the growth & use of language, page 78:

     The highest level of good English has been called the acrolect; the lowest level of poor speech, the basilect; both are contrasted with the matrilect, the general native language.

   • 1987, ‎Douglas N. Young, Language--planning and medium in education:

     In both regions English is used extensively, the spoken form ranging from, in the language of linguisticians, the basilect to the mesolect and the matrilect or acrolect (prestige English) .

   • 1996, James E. Alatis, Georgetown University Round Table on Languages and Linguistics, →ISBN:

     If only the basilect is a true creole, then the mesolect is relegated to limbo -- not a creole, certainly not a standard.

Derived terms

• basilectal

Translations

variety of a language that has diverged greatly from the standard form

French: basilecte (fr) German: Basilekt (de) m

Jamaican Creole: bazilek Spanish: basilecto m

See also

• acrolect
• mesolect
• code-switching