Mesolects

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A variety of language that exists between the standard and non-standard forms, often serving as a middle ground in linguistic evolution
2. Referring to dialects that blend characteristics of both regional and social speech patterns, representing an intermediary linguistic stage
3. Describing linguistic varieties that incorporate elements of both the prestigious and the vernacular, showcasing a range of spoken language forms

Etymology: "Mesolects" is the plural of "mesolect," a term for a variety of speech lying between the broad, locally marked end of a language continuum and its standard, prestige end. The word is built from "meso-," from Greek "mesos" meaning "middle," and "-lect," a back-formation from "dialect," which itself comes from Greek "dialektos" ("way of speaking"). The pairing of "meso-" with "-lect" follows the same pattern as the linguistic terms "acrolect" (the most prestigious variety) and "basilect" (the most localised variety), which places "mesolect" in a tidy three-part scale. The suffix "-lect" is a useful clue to how the term was assembled. Linguists needed a way to describe speech that is not simply a regional dialect and not simply standard language, and they created a family of words on a shared model rather than borrowing an existing word. "Mesolect" is therefore a technical coinage from classical roots, not a term used by ancient Greek or Roman speakers.