Dialect maps

Dialect maps are visualizations of the spatial distribution of linguistic features or, more generally, of feature-based areal structures. In order the address the issue of dialect maps properly we have to clarify (i) the key notions 'dialect', 'linguistic feature' and 'feature-based areal structure' before proceeding to (ii) the introduction of the mapping techniques, (iii) the purposes of dialects maps and key examples of good practice, and (iv) future perspectives, challenges, and risks in the field of dialect maps. Hence, this article offers a typology of mapping techniques and the purposes of dialect maps but does not provide a systematic survey of the history of linguistic cartography. For this issue cf. the Language Mapping handbook edited by Lameli, Kehrein, and Rabanus (2010).