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The distinct forms of speech heard around Bremen, Germany and Interlaken, Switzerland are considered regional dialects of the German language.
在德国不莱梅和瑞士茵特拉肯附近会听到的独特言语形式，被认为是德语的区域性方言。
And yet, when someone from Bremen is visiting the Swiss Alps, the conversations they hear between locals will likely be incomprehensible to them.
然而，当来自不莱梅的人到瑞士阿尔卑斯山时，他们很可能无法理解当地人的对话。
Similarly, outside of China, Mandarin and Cantonese are often referred to as Chinese dialects.
同样，在中国以外的地方，普通话和广东话通常被称为是中国话的方言。
But they're even more dissimilar than Spanish and Italian.
但它们的差异可能还比西班牙语和意大利语还要大。
On the other hand, speakers of Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, which are recognized as three distinct languages,
另一方面，说丹麦语、挪威语及瑞典语这三种不同语言的人，
can usually communicate in their native tongues with little difficulty.
通常能用他们的母语沟通，不太会有问题。
And Turkish language soap operas, broadcast without dubbing or subtitles, are some of the most popular shows in Azeri-speaking Azerbaijan.
没有配音或字幕的土耳其语肥皂剧，在说阿塞拜疆语的阿塞拜疆竟是最热门的节目之一。
So, when is a form of speech considered a dialect versus a language?
那么，分别方言和语言的形式为何？
It seems reasonable that the degree of mutual intelligibility would determine whether two ways of speaking are classified as separate languages or as dialects of the same language.
很合理的想法是：用可相互理解的程度来判断两种说话方式是独立的语言，还是同一种语言的方言。
But as we've seen, there are many occasions where this is not the case.
但刚才已经说明过，很多情况并非如此。
Perhaps surprisingly, the distinction between a language and a dialect usually has nothing to do with pronunciation, vocabulary, or any other linguistic features.
也许会很让人惊讶，语言和方言之间的区别通常无关发音、字汇，或任何其他语言特征。
However, it's not coincidental, either. It's a matter of politics.
但是，这也不是巧合。这是政治问题。
The basis for what's officially deemed a language was shaped by the emergence of a European nation states beginning around the 1500s.
正式认定一种语言的依据始于1500年代，是随着欧洲各个民族国家出现而形成的。
In order to establish and maintain centralized governments, clear territorial boundaries,
为了建立并维持中央集权的政府，明确领土边界，
and state-sponsored education systems, many nation states promoted a standardized language.
以及建立国有教育系统，各个国家开始推行单一标准语言。
Which form of speech was chosen to be the standard language was usually based on what people spoke in the capital.
选择哪种语音作为标准语言，通常取决于该国首都人们所说的话。
And while other forms of speech persisted, they were often treated as inferior.
尽管其他形式的语音依然存在，它们常常被视为低等语言。
This tradition extended across the globe with European colonization and into modern times.
这一传统随着欧洲的殖民进程遍布全球，并一直持续到现在。
Italy, for example, has at least 15 of what might be called regional dialects.
例如，在意大利至少有所谓的15种地方方言。
One of them, the Florentine dialect, became known as Standard Italian when the country politically unified in 1861.
其中之一，佛罗伦萨方言，在1861年统一意大利全境时，曾作为标准意大利语。
It was selected because legendary authors like Dante and Machiavelli used it in their original works.
它入选是因为传奇作家，如但丁、马基雅维利创作手稿时，使用这一语言。
And it came to represent an image of Italian national identity that some found particularly desirable.
进而把它作为意大利民族形象的代表，也让一些人觉得非常合适。
Later on, in his attempt to establish a unified, fascist state, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini saw language standardization as an important objective.
后来为了建立一个统一的法西斯国家，意大利独裁者贝尼托墨索里尼将语言标准化作为一个重要的目标。
His government promoted standard Italian while prohibiting other forms of speech from the public sphere, framing them as backward and unsophisticated.
墨索里尼政府推行标准意大利语，同时严令禁止其他意大利的语音，特别是在公共领域，将这些语音形式塑造为愚昧落后的代表。
In everything from job applications to court testimonies, standard languages act as gatekeepers around the world.
生活中的一切，从工作申请到法庭证词，标准语言在世界各地扮演者守门员的角色。
For instance, one 1999 study showed that landlords responded to apartment inquiries based on what form of speech their prospective tenants used.
例如，1999年的一项研究表明，房东对于租客的选择取决于准租客所使用的语音。
When callers spoke African-American Vernacular English, or AAVE, landlords were more likely to reject their inquiries.
当准租客说非洲英语、土话英语或者非洲裔土话英语时，房东倾向于拒绝他们的租房申请。
When they spoke so-called Standard American English, which is often associated with whiteness, landlords responded more positively.
当准租客使用所谓的标准美式英语时，通常被认为是白人，房东的反应则通常会比较积极。
Both of these forms of speech are considered English dialects.
以上这些语音都被认作是英语的方言。
In the United States, some people have cast AAVE as an incorrect or simplified version of mainstream US English.
在美国，有些人会将非洲裔土话英语认为是主流美式英语的简化或错误的版本。
But AAVE follows consistent grammatical rules every bit as sophisticated as other forms of English.
但是，非洲裔土话英语遵循相同的语法规则，样样与其他形式的英语一样复杂。
Linguists tend to avoid the term dialect altogether. Instead, many opt to call different forms of speech "varieties."
语言学家倾向于避免使用方言一词。取而代之，很多人选择称其为不同“变异”的语音形式。
This way, languages are seen as groups of varieties.
这样一来，语言被看作是不同组别的变异。
So the English language is made up of varieties including Standard British and American English, AAVE, Nigerian English, Malaysian English, and many others.
所以，英语由以下变异组成，包括英式英语、美式英语，非洲裔土话英语、尼日利亚英语、马来西亚英语等。
Each has its own unique history and characteristic pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammatical structures.
各有自己独特的历史、特色的发音、词汇以及语法结构。
But the dividing line between varieties is murky.
但不同变异间的界限是模糊的。
Human language, in all its cross-pollinating, ever-evolving glory, naturally resists the impulse to sort it into neat buckets.
人类语言的美妙之处就在于相互交融、自我进化，自然拒绝将其标准化并整齐排列。
Oftentimes, forms of speech exist on a kind of linguistic continuum where they overlap with others, and the differences between them are gradual— not clear cut.
多数情况下，语言形式存在于语言的连续体中，并在其中相互交叠嵌套，使得他们之间的区别逐渐模糊，不是一切两半。
And that's the confounding beauty of the dynamic, diverse, and dazzling universe of human communication.
这就是语言的精妙之处：动感，多元并闪耀在人类交流的宇宙之中。
