ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Basilect

Okay, so let's talk about "basilect." Have you ever heard grownups talking in a way that's really hard for you to understand? Maybe you hear words you don't know, or they use slang that you've never heard before. Well, sometimes grownups talk like that on purpose, and that's what we call a basilect.

A basilect is a way of speaking that is used by a certain group of people, like a certain community or region. It can be different from the way most people speak, and it can be hard for outsiders to understand. It's sort of like a secret language that only certain people know.

Some examples of basilects might include certain types of slang, or dialects that are unique to a particular region or group. For example, in some parts of the world, people might use a basilect when they're speaking a local dialect that's different from standard language. Or, teenagers might use a basilect that's full of the latest slang words that adults might not know.

In general, basilects are just another way that people can express themselves and communicate with each other. While they might be hard to understand at times, they can also be really interesting to listen to and learn about. Who knows, maybe you'll even get to know a basilect of your own someday!