Language is spelled with eight letters, yet it contains 5 different sounds. These sounds can be spelled in a variety of ways, causing difficulty for non-native speakers or young learners. In IPA phonetic transcription, ‘language’ is pronounced as /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/. The first sound ‘L’ is pronounced as /l/, followed by a short vowel sound ‘a’ pronounced as /æ/. The ‘n’ and ‘g’ are pronounced separate and are written respectively as /n/ and /ɡ/. The second syllable has a long vowel sound, ‘w’ sound pronounced as /w/ and ‘i’ as /ɪ/. The final syllable has the sound of ‘dʒ’, which sounds like /dʒ/.
Language refers to a systematic and structured method of communication used by humans, typically consisting of spoken and written words, symbols, or signs, to express thoughts, ideas, emotions, and convey meaning. It is a complex system of communication shared within a particular community or group of people, enabling individuals to interact, understand, and connect with one another.
Language involves a diverse range of components, including vocabulary (words and their meanings), grammar (rules and structures for arranging words into meaningful sentences), syntax (word order in sentences), phonetics (sounds and pronunciation), semantics (meaning of words and phrases), and pragmatics (how language is used in social contexts). It is both a form of expression and a tool for cognitive development, shaping the way individuals perceive the world and engage with their surroundings.
Furthermore, language can be further classified into various types, such as natural languages (spoken languages used by humans), constructed languages (artificially created languages, like Esperanto), programming languages (used to develop computer programs), and sign languages (using gestures, signs, and facial expressions).
Languages evolve and change over time, often influenced by cultural, historical, and social factors. They serve as a means of preserving and transmitting cultural heritage, knowledge, and traditions from one generation to another. Moreover, languages play a crucial role in shaping human identity, fostering social cohesion, enabling education, fostering creativity, and facilitating global communication.
The expression of ideas by means of words; human speech; style or manner of expression; the speech peculiar to a nation.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word language originated from the Old French term langage, which itself came from the Latin word lingua. Lingua in Latin referred to both the tongue (organ in the mouth) and language. The Latin term traces back to the Proto-Indo-European root *dnghu- which meant tongue. This root can be seen in various other languages, such as the Greek glossa and the Germanic tunga, both of which also mean tongue or language.