* Dialects are defined by their spoken form: Dialects are variations in pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and intonation within a language. They are primarily spoken, not written.
* Writing systems are standardized: While there are regional variations in written language (like spelling differences between American and British English), these are generally standardized within a particular writing system.
* Unwritten languages can't have dialects: Languages without a written form don't have dialects in the traditional sense because there's no standard against which to compare variations.
However, you might be thinking about:
* Regional differences in spoken language that aren't codified: Many regions have distinct ways of speaking that aren't formally documented. These could include:
* Pronunciation variations: "Y'all" in the American South or the "r-dropping" in some British accents.
* Vocabulary differences: Regional slang or terms for everyday objects.
* Grammatical features: Unique sentence structures or verb conjugations.
* Regional variations in writing that haven't been formally recognized: Even within a standardized writing system, there might be informal regional variations in spelling, grammar, or punctuation. These might be more common in informal settings or online communities.
In essence: There's no such thing as a formal "unwritten regional dialect." However, regional differences in spoken language and informal writing variations are definitely a thing, and they can be quite fascinating to study!