Idiolect
The distinctive way an individual person uses language, including their vocabulary preferences, grammatical patterns, and speech habits. Each person has a unique idiolect.
Real World
David Attenborough's unmistakable narration style — measured pace, precise Latinate vocabulary, softly authoritative tone — is so distinctive that listeners can identify him within seconds, illustrating how idiolect functions as a personal linguistic fingerprint.
Exam Focus
When analysing idiolect, cite at least three distinct linguistic levels (lexis, grammar, phonology) to demonstrate breadth across language frameworks.
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