vernacularisms
Regional speech patterns
Vernacularisms are words, phrases, or expressions characteristic of informal, everyday speech rather than formal or literary language.
The term covers regional dialects, colloquialisms, and local idioms—the way people actually talk rather than how grammar books say they should: His writing is full of Southern vernacularisms.
A vernacularism might be considered substandard by prescriptivists but perfectly natural to native speakers.
Regional language variety
- slangInformal in-group vocabulary
- colloquialismCasual conversational expression
- provincialismNarrow regional mindset
- localismPreference for nearby things
patois · idiom · cant · argot · lingo · drawl · twang · brogue
Relaxed, conversational language
- common parlanceOrdinary, informal speech patterns
- everyday languageOrdinary spoken communication
- demoticOf common folk
- spoken wordPoetry delivered aloud
street talk · native tongue · mother tongue · oral tradition · plain speech
Traditional piece of wisdom
- proverbTraditional saying expressing truth
- maximBrief moral principle
- homespun wisdomUnpretentious practical insight
- old wives taleUnverified traditional belief
folkway · tribal language · local color · authenticity · roots · ancestral tongue · creole · pidgin
dialect
Regional language variety
- slangInformal in-group vocabulary
- colloquialismCasual conversational expression
- provincialismNarrow regional mindset
localism · patois · idiom · cant · argot · lingo · drawl · twang · brogue · accent
informal speech
Relaxed, conversational language
- common parlanceOrdinary, informal speech patterns
- everyday languageOrdinary spoken communication
- demoticOf common folk
spoken word · street talk · native tongue · mother tongue · oral tradition · plain speech
folk saying
Traditional piece of wisdom
- proverbTraditional saying expressing truth
- maximBrief moral principle
- homespun wisdomUnpretentious practical insight
old wives tale · folkway · tribal language · local color · authenticity · roots · ancestral tongue · creole · pidgin · loan word
aint
Informal negative contraction
fixin to · reckon · innit · bloke · mate · howdy · youse · ken · bairn · nowt
vernacularismsformalisms
Strict adherence to rules
elevated language · high style · officialese · legalese · purple prose
vernacularismsstandard language
Codified, official linguistic form
official language · Queen's English · proper usage · Standard English · King's English