Vernacular Vernacular A vernacular, or vernacular language, is the language or variety of a language used in everyday life by the common people of a specific population. It is distinguished from a standard, national or literary language or a "lingua franca", used to facilitate communication across a large area. It is usually native, mostly spoken rather than written and usually seen as of lower status than more standardized forms. It can be a language, dialect or sociolect. Some linguists use "vernacular" and "nonstandard dialect" as synonyms. Usage of the word "vernacular" is not recent. In 1688, James Howell wrote: Concerning Italy,
Every Day is for the Thief Every Day is for the Thief Every Day is for the Thief is a 2007 novel by Nigerian author Teju Cole. The protagonist of the novel, who is unnamed, returns to Lagos after fifteen years in New York City, only to find himself changed by living abroad and confused by the city. The novel was first published in Nigeria, but was later republished in the United States. A man leaves New York to return to Lagos for the first time in 15 years after the death of his father and a fight with his mother. He realizes he is not