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Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of dialects?

  1. They are always written forms.

  2. They arise only from immigrant communities.

  3. They have geographical variations within a single language.

  4. They are only used in literary contexts.

The correct answer is: They have geographical variations within a single language.

The distinguishing feature of dialects is that they exhibit geographical variations within a single language. Dialects develop due to diverse factors in specific regions, such as historical, cultural, and social influences. These variations can manifest in pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and usage, distinguishing one dialect from another even though they all belong to the same linguistic family. This aspect of dialects recognizes the dynamic nature of language as it adapts and changes based on the influences of a particular community or geographic region. It is not limited to your written forms, immigrant communities, or exclusively confined to literary contexts, which helps to highlight the broader and more inclusive nature of dialogue in everyday communication.