Dictionary

acrolect en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈæk.ɹə.lɛkt/ (US)

Etymology

From acro- (“tip; peak”) + -lect, coined by William Alexander Stewart in 1965.

Meanings

1. The variety of speech that is considered most suitable for formal occasions (typically using only standard forms).
   • At the other end of the continuum is the most standard speech, the acrolect. In between is a gradient of forms with many successive levels, the mesolects. 2013, Allan Bell, The Guidebook to Sociolinguistics, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 83:
   • In one dimension change is directed toward the acrolect, the “typical” change in the creole continuum. 1994, Michael Montgomery, The Crucible of Carolina, University of Georgia Press, →ISBN, page 60:

Forms

Coordinates

hyperlect · basilect · mesolect

Deriveds

acrolectal

Relateds

code-switching · matrilect

Translations (11)

ga ardchanúint (variety of speech that is considered the standard form) · es acrolecto (variety of speech that is considered the standard form) · fr acrolecte (variety of speech that is considered the standard form) · it acroletto (variety of speech that is considered the standard form) · fi akrolekti (variety of speech that is considered the standard form) · nl acrolect (variety of speech that is considered the standard form) · ms akrolek (variety of speech that is considered the standard form) · ca acrolecte (variety of speech that is considered the standard form) · pt acroleto (variety of speech that is considered the standard form) · de Akrolekt (variety of speech that is considered the standard form) · id akrolek (variety of speech that is considered the standard form)