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Touche' on several counts, Tom. But, in addition to its literary riches, a tongue is considered a language, I believe, when it has acquired an evolved grammatical structure and vocabulary and is spoken over a widespread area by a large portion or majority of a populace or nation. A dialect is usually an offshoot or minor version of another language and is usually limited to specific areas or regions of a country.<BR>
Friulano, Barese, Abruzzese, Romanesco, Napoletano, Veneziano, etc. are all considered dialects of the Italic language.<BR>
and are spoken in specific and limited regions of Italy...a land of many dialects.<BR>
<BR>
And on that note, may I say,<BR>
buona notte and ciao for now,<BR>
Sandra<BR>
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