Question

12 dialect
a a language mutually understood and commonly used in trade by people who have different native languages
b our spoken, written, or signed words and the ways we combine them to communicate meaning
c a regional variety of a language distinguished by vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation.
d the manner in which people speak and the way words are pronounced in different parts of the world

Explanation:

To determine the correct definition of "dialect", we analyze each option:

• Option A describes a "lingua franca", not a dialect.
• Option B defines "language" in general, not specifically a dialect.
• Option C accurately defines a dialect as a regional variety of a language with distinct vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation.
• Option D focuses more on pronunciation and speaking manner broadly, not the regional variety aspect of a dialect.

Answer:

C. A regional variety of a language distinguished by vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation.