Definition & Meaning of "dialect levelling"

What is "dialect levelling"?

Dialect levelling is the process by which differences between regional or social dialects reduce over time, leading to a more uniform way of speaking. This can occur when speakers from different dialects interact frequently, such as through migration, education, or media exposure. As a result, features of various dialects may blend together, creating a new, less distinct dialect. Dialect levelling often reflects broader social changes and can result in the loss of unique local speech characteristics, as people adopt more common linguistic features to communicate more easily with others.