The criterion of "mutual intelligibility" is a clear-cut way to distinguish a dialect from a language.

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Mutual intelligibility is not always a clear-cut criterion for distinguishing a dialect from a language because there are cases where dialects of the same language are not mutually intelligible, and conversely, speakers of different languages can sometimes understand each other due to linguistic similarities or borrowing.

The Criterion of "Mutual Intelligibility" Is a Clear-Cut Way to Distinguish