language

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Language

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[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Old French langage, from Vulgar Latin *linguaticum, from Latin lingua (“‘tongue, speech, language’”), from Old Latin dingua, from Proto-Indo-European *dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s (“‘tongue, speech, language’”).

[edit] Pronunciation

• enPR: lăngʹgwĭj, IPA: /ˈlæŋgwɪʤ/, SAMPA: /"l{NgwIdZ/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

language (countable and uncountable; plural languages)

1. (countable) A form of communication using words either spoken or symbolized with a writing system, usually structured with grammar.

   the English language

   sign language

   • 1900, William Beckford, The History of the Caliph Vathek^[1], page 50:  

     "No language could express his rage and despair."

2. (uncountable) The ability to communicate using words.

   the gift of language

3. (countable or uncountable) Nonverbal communication.

   body language

4. (computing, countable) A computer language.
5. (uncountable) The vocabulary and usage used in a particular specialist field.

   legal language

6. (uncountable) The particular words used in speech or a passage of text.

   The language he used to talk to me was obscene.

   The language used in the law does not permit any other interpretation.

7. (uncountable) Profanity.
   • 1978, James Carroll, Mortal Friends^[2], ISBN 0440157897, page 500:  

     "Where the hell is Horace?" ¶"There he is. He's coming. You shouldn't use language."

[edit] Synonyms

• (system of communication): lingo (colloquial), tongue, speech
• (computer language): computer language, programming language
• (vocabulary of a particular field): jargon, phraseology, terminology
• (particular words used): lexis, phraseology, phrasing, terms, wording, words

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Related terms

• langue
• linguine
• linguistics

[edit] Translations

[edit] See also

• bilingual
• linguistics
• multilingual
• trilingual