In
sociolinguistics a
variety, also called a
lect, is a specific form of a
language or
language cluster. This may include
languages,
dialects,
registers,
styles or other forms of language, as well as a
standard variety. The use of the word "variety" to refer to these different forms avoids the use of the term
language, which many people associate only with the standard language, and the term
dialect, which is often associated with non-standard varieties thought of as less prestigious or "correct" than the standard. Linguists speak of both standard and non-standard varieties. "Lect" avoids the problem in ambiguous cases of deciding whether or not two varieties are distinct languages or dialects of a single language.