language

language

From Middle English langage, language, from Old French language, from Vulgar Latin *linguāticum, from Latin lingua (“tongue, speech, language”), from Old Latin dingua (“tongue”), from Proto-Indo-European*dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s (“tongue, speech, language”). Doublet of  langaj. Displaced native Old English ġeþēode.

Noun

language (countable and uncountable, plural languages)

Pronunciation

• enPR: lăngʹgwĭj, IPA^(key): /ˈlæŋɡwɪd͡ʒ/, Rhymes: -æŋɡwɪdʒ
  • (Received Pronunciation, General Australian) IPA^(key): [ˈlæŋɡwɪd͡ʒ]
  • (General American) IPA^(key): (see /æ/ raising) [ˈle(ɪ)ŋɡwɪd͡ʒ]
  • (Canada) IPA^(key): [ˈlæːŋɡwɪd͡ʒ], [ˈlaŋɡwed͡ʒ]