The difference between language and dialect has mostly to do with
A)strict linguistic measures of mutual intelligibility.
B)the number of words that are shared.
C)social and political attitudes of the speakers.
D)how long ago two groups of speakers split apart.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The distinction between a language and a dialect is often based more on social and political attitudes than on strict linguistic criteria. Factors such as mutual intelligibility do play a role, but the decision to classify speech varieties as separate languages or dialects of the same language frequently involves considerations of identity, power, and politics.

The Difference Between Language and Dialect Has Mostly to Do