Language: Definition, Usage & Examples Explained

Meaning 1：system of communication (language)

language 🔊

/ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/

A system of communication used by a particular country or community, involving words, sounds, and grammar, to express ideas and feelings.

Illustration of language as communication: diverse people talking and gesturing at a table.

system of communication 🔊

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/ˈsɪstəm əv kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən/

A structured system of symbols, sounds, and grammar used by humans to convey meaning.

📁 Category：Language Evolution 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'lingua' (tongue, language) + suffix '-age' (denoting relationship).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'lingua' as the tongue that speaks; 'language' is the system it produces.

📖 Example

Learning a new language is like opening a window to a whole new world. 🔊 Learning a new language is like opening a window to a whole new world.

🔗 Collocations

spoken language – language expressed through speech

foreign language – a language not native to the speaker

body language – non-verbal communication through gestures and posture

🔄 Synonyms

tongue (n.) – A person's native language or a system of speech.

speech (n.) – The expression of thoughts and feelings by articulate sounds.

dialect (n.) – A particular form of a language specific to a region or social group.

🚫 Antonyms

silence (n.) – The absence of speech or sound.

inarticulateness (n.) – Inability to express oneself clearly or fluently.

nonsense (n.) – Spoken or written words that have no meaning or make no sense.

🌱 Derivatives

linguistic (adj.) – Relating to language or linguistics.

linguist (n.) – A person skilled in foreign languages or the study of language.

bilingual (adj.) – Able to speak two languages fluently.

📖 Cultural Story

Latin 'lingua' meant both tongue and speech. It passed into Old French as 'langage', then Middle English. The word reflects the human capacity for symbolic communication.