language
language — noun
1. the natural human ability to use sounds, words, and grammatical rules in order t
the natural human ability to use sounds, words, and grammatical rules in order to share thoughts, information, and feelings with others
Talia believes that learning a second language as a child helps the brain develop.
The study of language explores how people across the world form sentences.
uncountable: 'language' without article for general concept
Without language, passing complex ideas from one generation to the next would be impossible.
All human societies have developed some form of spoken language over time.
Christopher wrote a short essay about the history of language for his class.
- speech
more specific, focuses on spoken rather than written communication
- communication
broader — includes gestures, signs, and images, not just words and grammar
- verbal expression
more formal; emphasises the act of putting thoughts into words
- silence
the absence of spoken communication
文法句型
the + language + of
language + is
human + language
用法筆記
Uncountable in this sense — do not say 'a language' when referring to the general human ability to communicate.
常見錯誤
2. a particular system of words, pronunciation, and grammar that is spoken or writt
a particular system of words, pronunciation, and grammar that is spoken or written by the people of a specific country, region, or community
Jiwoo speaks three languages fluently — Korean, English, and Japanese.
The Portuguese language is spoken by more than two hundred million people worldwide.
countable: 'a language' / 'the [adj] language' patterns
Aarav's grandparents speak a regional language that is different from the national one.
Many young people in Taiwan learn a third language in addition to Mandarin and English.
Hoa asked her aunt to teach her the traditional language of their village.
文法句型
a + language
the + [nationality] + language
[country] + language
speak + language
用法筆記
Countable when referring to a specific named language system ('three languages,' 'a language I learned'). Also used uncountably with the definite article when naming the language: 'the French language.'
常見錯誤
3. a carefully designed set of symbols, words, and rules that programmers use to wr
a carefully designed set of symbols, words, and rules that programmers use to write instructions for computers to follow
Liam learned the Python programming language to build data analysis tools.
JavaScript is a common language used to make websites interactive.
Mateo chose the C++ language for his robotics project because of its speed.
Some languages are designed for beginners who have never written code before.
- programming language
the full, more precise term
- coding language
more informal; widely used among developers
- scripting language
a subtype used for automating tasks, not full application development
文法句型
programming + language
a + language
[name] + language
用法筆記
Countable when naming specific programming languages ('Python is a language'). Like sense 2, the structure 'the Java language' is common.
常見錯誤
4. the particular choice of words, sentence structures, and tone that a person or g
the particular choice of words, sentence structures, and tone that a person or group uses when speaking or writing in a given situation
The prime minister's language grew more aggressive during the election campaign.
Femi admired the rich, poetic language in the novel about rural Nigeria.
[adjective] + language: describing style or register
Astrid used clear, simple language when explaining the contract to her client.
The academic language in that journal article was too difficult for me to follow.
The candidate's aggressive language during the debate turned off many voters.
- diction
more technical; refers specifically to word choice in speech or writing
- phraseology
more formal; emphasises the typical way of arranging phrases
- register
linguistics term for the level of formality in a given context
文法句型
[adjective] + language
the + language + of
用法筆記
Almost always appears with a preceding adjective or modifying phrase that describes the type of expression (formal, poetic, legal, everyday, etc.).
常見錯誤
5. the collection of specialized words and expressions that belong to a particular
the collection of specialized words and expressions that belong to a particular job, academic field, or area of activity
Medical language can be confusing for patients reading their own test results.
Hamza did not understand the legal language in the rental agreement.
The mechanic used technical language that none of the customers could follow.
Teachers try to avoid academic language when speaking to young children in class.
- jargon
can have a negative connotation of being unnecessarily complicated or exclusive
- terminology
more formal; refers to the set of terms in a field
- specialist vocabulary
emphasises that the words are not used in everyday speech
- plain English
everyday language without technical terms
文法句型
[field] + language
the + language + of + [field]
用法筆記
Frequently modified by a field-name adjective (medical, legal, technical) or 'the language of [field].' This sense overlaps with 'jargon' but is more neutral.
6. words that are considered rude, offensive, or socially unacceptable, especially
words that are considered rude, offensive, or socially unacceptable, especially swear words or vulgar expressions
The film contains strong language and may not be suitable for children.
Mert's mother told him to watch his language when his younger cousins visited.
fixed phrase: 'watch your language' — a polite warning
Some radio stations remove bad language before playing songs on air.
The coach warned the players that foul language would result in a fine.
- swear words
more specific; refers only to individual taboo words like profanities
- profanity
more formal; refers to language that shows disrespect for sacred things
- curse words
common in American English; slightly less intense than 'swear words'
- polite language
speech that follows social rules of respect and courtesy
文法句型
bad + language
strong + language
foul + language
用法筆記
Never used alone without a modifier in this sense. 'He used language' does not clearly mean swearing; you need 'bad,' 'strong,' or 'foul.'
常見錯誤
7. a system of signs, movements, gestures, sounds, or symbols that people or animal
a system of signs, movements, gestures, sounds, or symbols that people or animals use to express ideas, feelings, or information without using words
Élise could tell from his body language that he did not agree with her.
Sign language allows deaf people to communicate naturally using hand movements.
common fixed expression: 'body language' / 'sign language'
Dogs use a rich language of barks, growls, and tail wags to show their feelings.
The designer used the language of color to create a calm atmosphere in the office.
Bees communicate through the language of dance to tell other bees where food is.
- non-verbal communication
more formal; covers all communication without words
- gestures
narrower — only hand and body movements, not sounds or symbols
- signs
focuses on conventionalised symbols rather than natural expressions
- spoken language
verbal communication using words
文法句型
[modifier] + language
the + language + of
用法筆記
Almost always requires a modifier ('body language,' 'sign language,' 'the language of dance') to specify the type of non-verbal system being referred to.