lan|guage

lan|guage «LANG gwihj», noun.

1. human speech, spoken or written: »

Without language men would be like animals. Language is the basis of man's uniqueness, and the essence of his culture (Scientific American).

2. the speech used by one nation, tribe, or other similar large group of people; tongue: »

the French language, the Navaho language.

3. a form, style, or kind of language; manner of expression: »

bad or strong language, Shakespeare's language. The best language must inevitably be conservative, but it needs no less to be continuously refreshed from the springing well of everyday utterance… (Simeon Potter).

SYNONYM(S): diction, parlance.

4. wording or words: »

in the language of the Lord's Prayer. The lawyer explained to us very carefully the language of the contract.

5. the special terms used by a science, art, profession, or class of persons: »

the language of chemistry. There is one language for the pulpit and another for on board ship (Frederick Marryat).

SYNONYM(S): phraseology, vocabulary, jargon, cant.

6. the expression of thoughts and feelings otherwise than by words: »

sign language, the language of reason. A dog's language is made up of barks, whines, growls, and tail-waggings.

7. = computer language. (Cf. ↑computer language)

8. the study of language or languages; linguistics.

9. a set of assumptions or attitudes, often held by a group: »

He just doesn't speak my language.

Abbr: lang.

╂[< Old French langage < langue tongue, language < Latin lingua]

Synonym Study 2 Language, dialect, idiom mean the form and pattern of speech of a particular group of people. Language applies to the body of words, forms, and patterns of sounds and structure making up the speech of a people, nation, or group of peoples. Dialect applies to a form of speech peculiar to one locality or district of the geographical territory of a language: »

The dialect of the English language spoken in Boston sounds strange to a Westerner.

Idiom applies to a particular language's characteristic manner of using words in phrases and sentences: »

The use of prepositions is a striking feature of English idiom.