ABSTRACT
Linguistic atlases are representable as two-dimensional matrices: the variables are points and maps. Selective indicators of only one language level, which were singled out by experienced researchers often intuitively on the basis of a comprehensive knowledge of the linguistic situation in the relevant area, proved to be quite significant for the classification of dialect areas. For in this field one can definitely 'put things to the test'. This consists firstly in statistically evaluating the selected heteroglosses, and secondly in trying to ascertain whether heteroglosses of different language levels agree with each other or not. Furthermore, in interpreting the language evidence one can pursue the question of whether it correlates with extra-linguistic factors characteristic of the overall sociocultural setting as well as those concerning topography. Dialectometry, or dynamic dialectology, shows fluid transitions and none of the abrupt boundaries suggested by the term isogloss.
