Language is the system of spoken or written communication shared by a community, including its words, grammar, and signs. It encompasses how people convey meaning, structure sentences, and adapt to new terms. As a uniquely human ability, language evolves with culture and technology, enabling complex expression and social interaction across contexts and domains.
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"Her language skills have improved dramatically since she began intensive tutoring."
"In coding, language refers to the formal syntax used to instruct a computer."
"Researchers study how multilingual language processing differs from monolingual processing."
"The manifesto challenged the dominant language, arguing for more inclusive terminology."
Language derives from the Old French langage, from Latin lingua ‘tongue, speech,’ which itself comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *dn̥ǵh- meaning ‘to speak’ or ‘tongue.’ The transition from Latin lingua to Old French langage inflected to describe ‘the manner of speaking’ or ‘language’ in medieval Europe. In English, language appeared around the 13th century as a translation of the French term. Over time, the word broadened from literal speech to include organized systems of communication—signs, symbols, and formal grammars—across spoken, signed, and computer-based modalities. The late modern period saw language studies become a discipline, with linguistics analyzing phonology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Today, language encompasses human linguistic capacity and all its diverse modes, includingpidgins, creoles, and digital languages. First known use in English is attested in 1250–1300 (as langage), with the current form stabilizing in Early Modern English. The word’s evolution tracks the history of culture, education, and technology, embedding itself in psychology, anthropology, and information science as the central object of study. Modern discussions frequently distinguish between natural languages, programming languages, and formal languages, reflecting a broadening of the concept while retaining the core idea of structured communication.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "language" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "language" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "language"
-age sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/. Primary stress on the first syllable: LANG- widge. The sequence ‘lang’ ends with a soft -ng- followed by a schwa-like glide into -w-; the final sound is -ɪdʒ like 'adge' in 'badge' but softened. Tip: keep the /ɡ/ light, then transition quickly into /w/ and /ɪdʒ/. Audio references: you can compare with pronunciations on Forvo or Cambridge Dictionary audio for consistency.
Common errors: (1) over-enunciating the /g/ and turning it into a strong /g/ like ‘lang- guh- widge’; (2) misplacing stress, sounding like /ˈlæn.dʒwɪdʒ/ with extra syllables; (3) treating /ɡw/ as separate cluster rather than a /ɡw/ sequence. Correction: keep /ɡ/ light and cohesive with the following /w/ as a single /ɡw/ onset, and ensure the final /dʒ/ is a fast, clean release. Practice with minimal pairs to lock the rhythm: LANG-widge, not LANG-gwedge.
All major varieties share the /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ skeleton, but rhotics and vowel quality differ. In US English you’ll hear the rhotic /r/ in connected speech, and vowels are slightly lax in some dialects. UK English often has more clipped vowels and a slightly longer vowel duration before /dʒ/. Australian English may show a broader /æ/ in the first syllable and a softer /ɡ/; the final /ɪdʒ/ may reduce slightly in rapid speech. Overall, the primary stress remains on the first syllable across accents, with minor vowel shifts.
Challenges include the /æŋ/ sequence followed immediately by /ɡw/—a double consonant onset that isn’t common in all languages—plus the transition from a nasal to a velar plosive with a /w/ onset before the /ɪdʒ/ final. The consonant cluster /ŋɡ/ requires precise tongue positioning to avoid vowel intrusion. Accurate lip rounding for /w/ and quick release into /ɪdʒ/ demands careful speed control and clean voicing. Practicing the transitional timing helps reduce slurring.
Yes. In 'language' the /g/ is part of the /ŋɡ/ consonant cluster that is counted as part of the first syllable: LANG- is one syllable, then -uage contributes the /wɪdʒ/ portion, making the word two syllables overall. Miscounting can lead to sounding like three or more syllables if speakers insert an unnecessary vowel. Focus on a clean, quick /ŋɡ/ onset, then glide into /wɪdʒ/ without extra vowels.
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