language English · revision 3421

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1280|origins=la lingua}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪdʒ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|langage]], [[bor|fro|langage|t=speech, words; a people, nation]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(SOED 2002) from [[la-vul|*linguāticum]],^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(Klein 1966) from [[la|lingua|t=tongue; speech, language]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(AHD 2000) from [[ine-pro|*dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s|alt=*dnghu-|t=tongue]],^(Etymonline)^(AHD 2000) the source also of [[tongue]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) The -u- is an Anglo-French insertion, after [[m|fro|langue|t=tongue]], and was not originally pronounced.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) Word Origins relates ''lingua'' to [[lick]].^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ What is said, talk: about 1280, langage,^(Barnhart 1988) or the late 13th century,^(Etymonline) with the spelling ''language'' about 1330.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The speech of a nation, a particular tongue such as English or French, is from about 1300,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) as is “manner of expression”.^(Etymonline) In Middle English the word was also used of dialects, as when Trevisa wrote that Midlanders understood the northern and southern ''langages'' better than northerners and southerners understood each other.^(Etymonline) The terms of a science or profession are from 1502,^(OED 1989)^(HTOED) and non-verbal means of communication, as in ''the language of flowers'', from 1606.^(OED 1989) ''Bad language'', and in dialect simply ''language'', is abusive talk.^(Wright 1898) A computer language is from 1949.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1280 – talk, speech.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1300 – the language of a people.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1330 – the spelling ''language''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1502 – technical vocabulary.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1606 – non-verbal communication.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1949 – a computer language.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The use of spoken sounds, and written symbols for them, to communicate thoughts and feelings.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # The system of words used by a particular people or nation.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+ # A system of signs or symbols used for communication, including [[sign language]] and computer languages.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # The special vocabulary of a field: ''legal language''.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A manner of expression; wording, style: ''bad language''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[metalanguage]]

+ * [[paralanguage]]

+ * [[prelanguage]]

+ * [[slanguage]]

+ * [[interlanguage]]

+ * [[assembly language]]

+ * [[contact language]]

+ * [[daughter language]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[langue]]

+ * [[lingua franca]]

+ * [[lingua]]

+ * [[linguine]]

+ * [[linguistics]]

+ * [[tongue]]

+ * [[lingual]]

+ * [[linguist]]

+ * [[lingo]]

+ * [[lick]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}