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- Dictionarylanguage/ˈlaŋɡwɪdʒ/
noun
- 1. the principal method of human communication, consisting of words used in a structured and conventional way and conveyed by speech, writing, or gesture: "a study of the way children learn language"
- 2. a system of communication used by a particular country or community: "the book was translated into twenty-five languages" Similar
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Learn the meaning of language as a system of communication, a style of expression, or a type of computer programming. Find out how to use language in different contexts and domains with examples and collocations.
- English (US)
LANGUAGE meaning: 1. a system of communication consisting of...
- Znaczenie Language, Definicja W Cambridge English Dictionary
language definicja: 1. a system of communication consisting...
- Body Language
BODY LANGUAGE definition: 1. the movements or positions of...
- Machine Language
MACHINE LANGUAGE definition: → machine code. Learn more.
- Computer Language
COMPUTER LANGUAGE definition: a set of rules, words, etc....
- Language: Thai Translation
LANGUAGE translate: ภาษาพูดของมนุษย์, ภาษา, ศัพท์เฉพาะ....
- English (US)
Language definition: a body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or nation, the same geographical area, or the same cultural tradition.
- Overview
- Definitions of language
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language, a system of conventional spoken, manual (signed), or written symbols by means of which human beings, as members of a social group and participants in its culture, express themselves. The functions of language include communication, the expression of identity, play, imaginative expression, and emotional release.
Many definitions of language have been proposed. Henry Sweet, an English phonetician and language scholar, stated: “Language is the expression of ideas by means of speech-sounds combined into words. Words are combined into sentences, this combination answering to that of ideas into thoughts.” The American linguists Bernard Bloch and George L. Trager formulated the following definition: “A language is a system of arbitrary vocal symbols by means of which a social group cooperates.” Any succinct definition of language makes a number of presuppositions and begs a number of questions. The first, for example, puts excessive weight on “thought,” and the second uses “arbitrary” in a specialized, though legitimate, way.
A number of considerations (marked in italics below) enter into a proper understanding of language as a subject:
Every physiologically and mentally typical person acquires in childhood the ability to make use, as both sender and receiver, of a system of communication that comprises a circumscribed set of symbols (e.g., sounds, gestures, or written or typed characters). In spoken language, this symbol set consists of noises resulting from movements of certain organs within the throat and mouth. In signed languages, these symbols may be hand or body movements, gestures, or facial expressions. By means of these symbols, people are able to impart information, to express feelings and emotions, to influence the activities of others, and to comport themselves with varying degrees of friendliness or hostility toward persons who make use of substantially the same set of symbols.
Britannica Quiz
Languages & Alphabets
Different systems of communication constitute different languages; the degree of difference needed to establish a different language cannot be stated exactly. No two people speak exactly alike; hence, one is able to recognize the voices of friends over the telephone and to keep distinct a number of unseen speakers in a radio broadcast. Yet, clearly, no one would say that they speak different languages. Generally, systems of communication are recognized as different languages if they cannot be understood without specific learning by both parties, though the precise limits of mutual intelligibility are hard to draw and belong on a scale rather than on either side of a definite dividing line. Substantially different systems of communication that may impede but do not prevent mutual comprehension are called dialects of a language. In order to describe in detail the actual different language patterns of individuals, the term idiolect, meaning the habits of expression of a single person, has been coined.
Language is a system of conventional symbols by which humans communicate, express identity, and create culture. Learn about the characteristics, types, development, and facts of language from Britannica's experts.
Learn the various meanings and uses of the word language, from the words and sounds of a community to the study of communication systems. See synonyms, examples, etymology, and related articles.
Language is a structured system of communication that consists of grammar and vocabulary. It is the primary means by which humans convey meaning, both in spoken and written forms, and may also be conveyed through sign languages. Human language is characterized by its cultural and historical diversity, with significant variations observed ...
2 days ago · Learn the various meanings and uses of the word language, from a system of communication to a style of expression. Find synonyms, pronunciation, examples, and related terms for language.
Learn the definition, pronunciation and usage of the word language in English. Find out the different meanings and examples of language as a system of communication, a style of speaking/writing, a way of expressing ideas and feelings, and a system of symbols and rules for computers.
