vernacular
/vəˈnækjələ(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [vɚnˈækjəlɚ] /vərˈnækjələr/ (ame, ipa) · [vɚnˈækjəlɚ] /vər-ˈna-kyə-lər How to pronounce vernacular (audio) və-/ (ame, mw) · /vəˈnæk.jə.lər/ (bre, ipa) · [vɚnˈækjəlɚ] /vɚˈnæk.jə.lɚ/ (ame, ipa)
vernacular — 名詞
- vernacularsingular
- vernacularsplural
1. The way ordinary people naturally speak in daily situations, in contrast to the
口語；白話
一般人日常使用的語言形式
The way ordinary people naturally speak in daily situations, in contrast to the formal or literary version of a language.
When the linguist interviewed the elders, she recorded the vernacular spoken in the mountain villages.
那位語言學家訪問長輩時，記錄了山村裡使用的地方口語。
vernacular of [region/group]
Padma, from Hyderabad, reads Telugu novels in the modern vernacular rather than in classical literary style.
來自 Hyderabad 的 Padma 閱讀現代白話文寫的泰盧固語小說，而非古典文學風格的作品。
in the vernacular
The local newspaper uses vernacular expressions that visitors sometimes find hard to understand.
當地報紙使用口語表達，外來訪客有時覺得難以理解。
Teachers often remind students that academic essays require formal language, not the everyday vernacular.
老師常提醒學生，學術論文需要正式語言，而非日常口語。
- colloquial speech
focuses specifically on informal, conversational language rather than the broader ordinary speech of a region
- common speech
more general term, less technical than 'vernacular'
- everyday language
plain description, less formal register than 'vernacular'
- formal language
the opposite of everyday speech, used in official or academic contexts
- literary language
the polished, artistic form of a language opposed to ordinary speech
文法句型
the vernacular
in the vernacular
vernacular of [region]
用法筆記
Frequently preceded by 'the' (the vernacular). Distinguish from 'dialect' — vernacular refers broadly to everyday language, not a specific regional variety with distinct grammar.
常見錯誤
2. The style of ordinary houses and buildings that is typical of a particular area,
鄉土風格
當地一般房屋的建築樣式
The style of ordinary houses and buildings that is typical of a particular area, using local materials and building traditions rather than designs by professional architects.
The architect studied the vernacular of rural farmhouses before designing the new community center.
建築師在設計新的社區中心之前，先研究了鄉間農舍的地方建築風格。
vernacular of [place/type]
Tamar admired the local building vernacular, with its red brick walls and sloping tile roofs.
Tamar 很欣賞當地的建築風格，紅磚牆與斜瓦屋頂是其特色。
Modern housing developments in southern Portugal often ignore the traditional vernacular of whitewashed walls and terracotta roofs.
葡萄牙南部的現代住宅開發案經常忽略該地區以白牆與陶瓦屋頂為特色的傳統鄉土建築風格。
The museum exhibition showed how the vernacular of Japanese farmhouses influenced modern design.
博物館的展覽展示了日本農舍的建築風格如何影響了現代設計。
- folk architecture
emphasises traditional building by local people rather than trained builders
- traditional style
broader term covering any inherited building tradition
- high architecture
buildings designed by professional architects following formal styles
- modernist architecture
a particular formal style, the opposite of locally-evolved building traditions
文法句型
the vernacular
vernacular of [place]
in the vernacular
用法筆記
Almost always used in architectural contexts. The phrase 'vernacular architecture' (adjective sense) is far more common than the noun form for this meaning.
常見錯誤
3. Cultural activities such as music, dance, and art that appeal to the general pub
通俗風格
一般大眾喜愛的藝術文化風格
Cultural activities such as music, dance, and art that appeal to the general public rather than being limited to trained professionals or elite audiences.
The dance troupe specializes in the vernacular of street performers rather than classical ballet.
這個舞團擅長街頭表演者的通俗風格，而非古典芭蕾。
the vernacular of [art form]
Andrei, a visiting musician from Poland, wanted to learn about Appalachian folk music as part of the American vernacular.
來自波蘭的訪問音樂家 Andrei 想了解阿帕拉契民間音樂，將其視為美國通俗文化的一部分。
The community gallery in Oaxaca displayed colorful textiles and pottery in a vibrant vernacular style popular with local residents.
Oaxaca 的社區畫廊展出了色彩繽紛的紡織品與陶器，其活潑的通俗風格深受當地居民喜愛。
Many jazz musicians draw on the vernacular of blues and gospel music in their work.
許多爵士樂手在作品中汲取了藍調與福音音樂的通俗風格。
- folk art
narrower term, usually implies traditional handmade objects and music passed through generations
- popular culture
broader, includes mass media and commercial entertainment
- street culture
focuses on informal, urban cultural forms
- classical art
formal, established art forms taught in academies
- high culture
elite cultural forms consumed by educated or wealthy audiences
文法句型
the vernacular
vernacular of [type]
用法筆記
Often used in art criticism and cultural studies. This sense overlaps with 'folk' but is broader, covering any popular, non-academic cultural expression.
vernacular — 形容詞
- vernacularpositive
- more vernacularcomparative
- most vernacularsuperlative
1. Relating to or using the everyday informal language that ordinary people speak,
口語的
使用日常語言的
Relating to or using the everyday informal language that ordinary people speak, rather than the formal or literary form of the language.
Hana gave a speech in vernacular Korean so the whole audience could follow along.
Hana 用韓語口語發表演講，讓所有聽眾都能聽懂。
vernacular + language name
Gabriel's novel about a Nairobi market used a vernacular writing style that made the dialogue feel fresh.
Gabriel 描寫奈洛比市場的小說使用了口語寫作風格，讓對白顯得清新。
vernacular writing/speech/language
A Cape Town research team studies vernacular speech patterns in local townships rather than textbook grammar.
開普敦的一個研究團隊研究當地城鎮社區的口語講話模式，而非教科書上的文法。
The play used vernacular dialogue to show how real people talked in the 1920s.
這齣戲使用了口語對白，來呈現1920年代人們真實的說話方式。
- colloquial
specifically informal conversation, slightly less formal than 'vernacular'
- everyday
plain, non-technical term for ordinary language use
- spoken
focuses on oral rather than written form, not necessarily informal
文法句型
vernacular + noun
用法筆記
Commonly modifies nouns like 'language', 'speech', 'dialogue', 'expression'. The adjective is more frequent in academic writing than in conversation.
常見錯誤
2. Relating to a style of ordinary buildings that is typical of a particular area,
鄉土風的
當地一般建築風格的
Relating to a style of ordinary buildings that is typical of a particular area, using local materials and traditional methods rather than designs by professional architects.
Renata's book examines vernacular architecture in the farming villages of southern Italy.
Renata 的書探討了義大利南部農村地區的鄉土建築風格。
vernacular architecture
The village church is a fine example of vernacular building methods using local stone.
村莊教堂是運用當地石材的鄉土建築工法的絕佳範例。
Vernacular houses in coastal Kerala have wide verandas and high ceilings to stay cool in summer.
喀拉拉邦沿海地區的鄉土風格房屋有寬敞的陽台和高天花板，以在夏季保持涼爽。
Chiang Mai University offers a fieldwork course on vernacular design in northern Thailand's hill-tribe villages.
清邁大學開設了一門田野調查課程，研究泰國北部山地部落村莊的鄉土建築風格。
- traditional
broader term for any inherited building practices
- local
plain term emphasising geographic origin over building tradition
- rustic
suggests a rural, simple style, often with a romanticised connotation
文法句型
vernacular + noun
用法筆記
Most commonly found in the set phrase 'vernacular architecture', which is a standard term in architectural history and preservation. This sense is almost exclusively used before nouns about buildings.
常見錯誤
3. Relating to cultural forms — especially music, dance, and visual art — that are
通俗的
一般大眾文化風格的
Relating to cultural forms — especially music, dance, and visual art — that are created by and enjoyed by the general public rather than academic or elite groups.
The annual Gnaoua Festival in Essaouira celebrates vernacular music traditions from different ethnic communities across Morocco.
每年在 Essaouira 舉辦的 Gnaoua 音樂節，慶祝來自摩洛哥各地不同族群的通俗音樂傳統。
vernacular music/dance/art
Piotr enjoys learning vernacular dance forms like Polish oberek and Ukrainian hopak far more than formal ballroom dancing.
Piotr 喜歡學習波蘭 oberek 與烏克蘭 hopak 等通俗舞蹈形式，遠勝於正式的國標舞。
The murals on market walls in Kisumu are vernacular art that tells stories about daily lakeside life.
Kisumu 市場牆上的壁畫是通俗藝術，講述湖邊的日常生活故事。
The documentary explored vernacular theater traditions in rural Southeast Asia.
這部紀錄片探討了東南亞鄉村的通俗戲劇傳統。
- professional
created or performed by trained, paid artists
- classical
formal, established cultural forms with a canon of works
- highbrow
elite cultural forms aimed at educated audiences
文法句型
vernacular + noun
用法筆記
Used mainly in academic discussions of culture, particularly in anthropology, cultural studies, and art history. Distinguished from 'folk' — vernacular cultural forms may be urban and contemporary, not necessarily handed down through generations.