Explanation
The individual set of characteristic linguistic habits of a person. In the atlas, idiolect is explored as a relationship between form, expectation, and effect. It encapsulates personal linguistic history as a recognizable signature.
Example
Recurring favorite phrases shape one’s personal idiolect.
Counterexample
A sociolect belongs to a group, not to an individual.
Distinction
A sociolect belongs to a group, not to an individual.
Effect on thought and perception
The term encapsulates personal linguistic history as a recognizable signature. This renders a linguistic order that was previously taken for granted perceptible as an active thought process.
Resonance
Resonance arises when an idiolect is not only recognized but also experienced in its directional effect between expression, body, context, and interpretation.
Cite this entry
Reich, Michael (Hrsg./ed.): „Idiolect“. Atlas der Sprache, AT-091-060. ATLAS 251, data model 1.6.0. https://atlasoflanguage.com/concept/AT-091-060The address remains stable; editorial content may evolve. A verified modification date per entry is not yet available. Include your access date for precise references.