What dialect of Greek did the Dorians speak after the Mycenaean civilization declined?

The Dorians spoke the Dorian dialect of Greek after the decline of the Mycenaean civilization. This dialect is one of the major branches of ancient Greek and is associated with the Dorian people, who are believed to have migrated into Greece from the north during the so-called "Greek Dark Ages." The Dorian dialect is characterized by specific phonetic and grammatical features that distinguish it from other Greek dialects, such as Attic and Ionic.

In the historical context, the Dorian migration led to significant changes in the cultural landscape of Greece. The Dorians settled in regions like the Peloponnesus and parts of central Greece, where they developed their own distinct customs and societal structures, which were different from those of the Mycenaean civilization that preceded them. Due to this migration and the resulting cultural shifts, the Dorian dialect became prominent in those regions.

This context highlights why the Dorian dialect is correctly identified as the language of this group during a pivotal time in Greek history, distinct from other dialects like Attic, which became associated with the city of Athens and its surrounding areas, and Ionic, which was spoken in eastern Greece, particularly in the islands and coast of Asia Minor. Arcadian, meanwhile, represents