language
Let an agent explain what a language is and how languages are classified and counted, relay linguistic knowledge with attribution, distinguish languages from dialects and from formal languages, and route to entries for specific languages and families.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain what a language is and how languages are classified and counted, relay linguistic knowledge with attribution, distinguish languages from dialects and from formal languages, and route to entries for specific languages and families.
A structured system of communication used by humans, consisting of sounds, signs or written symbols combined by grammar to convey meaning, acquired by children without explicit teaching, and existing in about 7000 living forms, each a language in the sense of a variety with its own speakers and identity; language is studied in linguistics, and the word also names the human capacity for language and, by extension, formal and programming languages.
What it is for: Human communication and thought.
It can be explain the concept and its features; explain classification and counting of languages; distinguish language from dialect and formal language; route to specific languages.
Distinguishing features
Grammar and productivity
Acquired naturally
Spoken, signed and written modes
Diversity and change
What it looks like
Not a visible object; heard as speech, seen as signing or writing.
Physical character
living languages: about 7000 count - estimates vary by criteria
language families: about 140 count - plus isolates
How it is recognised
Structured human communication system
Spoken, signed or written
Animal communication and programming languages are related but distinct
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is studied by - the discipline
is contrasted with - a variety within a language
is grouped into - by descent
In practice
Families and kinds
spoken languages
sign languages
language families and isolates
standard, minority and endangered languages
pidgins, creoles and constructed languages
language as a capacity, and formal languages as a related sense
Identifiers
ISO 639 codes language identifiers
Glottolog languoid codes
Standards and regulation
ISO 639 language codes
Language policies and official language laws
UNESCO frameworks on endangered languages
Failure modes and hazards
Treating the language-dialect distinction as purely linguistic
Unsourced language counts
Language endangerment and loss
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.language-2
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Concept What language is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition and features.
Definition
Definition.
- What is a language, and what features distinguish human language? definition
- Is the question about a specific language, language in general or a formal language? boundary
Dialect
Language and dialect.
Dialect
Dialect.
- How are languages distinguished from dialects, and why is the distinction partly political, with positions attributed? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral? boundary
Diversity Languages of the world.
Sources.
Count
Counting and classifying.
Count
Count.
- How many languages exist, and how are they classified into families? measurement
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Endangered
Endangerment.
Endangered
Endangered.
- How many languages are endangered, and what is done to document and revitalise them? provenance
- Which entry fits endangered language? action
Structure Structure and acquisition.
Linguistics.
Levels
Levels of structure.
Levels
Levels.
- What are phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and pragmatics? definition
- Which entry fits the specific subfield? action
Acquisition
Acquisition and evolution.
Acquisition
Acquisition.
- How do children acquire language, and what do theories say about its evolution, with positions attributed? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Society Language and society.
Context.
Policy
Policy and rights.
Policy
Policy.
- How do states regulate languages, and what language rights exist? provenance
- Which entry fits language policy? action
Change
Change and contact.
Change
Change.
- How do languages change and influence each other? provenance
- Which entry fits historical linguistics? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should language as a capacity be a separate entry?
- How should ISO and Glottolog be linked?
- How should politically contested language identities be recorded?