Language is a system of communication, formed by oral and written signs , that serve to enable us human beings to express our ideas, thoughts, emotions and feelings to other human beings, whether to two or more people.

Language becomes indispensable in our life in society and is key in our interpersonal relationships.In this article you will learn how language is classified and what its characteristics are.

Other forms of communication

Language is only one part of communication. Being a good communicator is key to developing in everyday life and to succeeding in interpersonal relationships , in work and in life in general.

Communication, like language, can take different forms, as there may be more than one communicator (one person or several) or the message may be sent through a different channel. So before we get into the different types of language, you can start by learning about the different types of communication in our article: “The 28 types of communication and their characteristics”.

Types of language

But, what types of language are there? what are their characteristics?

In this article we present you with a list of the different types of language and their explanation.

According to your level of naturalness

There is more than one type of language or method of communication through which we transmit information to each other. In this sense we can classify different typologies. One of them is based on the level of naturalness or artificiality with which the code of symbols used is used.

1. Natural language

Natural language is the language we all speak in an ordinary way (Spanish, Catalan, English, French, etc.) and refers to those languages that have been developed spontaneously by a group of people with the purpose of communicating. It is different from other types of languages, such as programming languages or mathematical language.

Thus, by natural language we mean all those acts of communication that unconsciously use the code learned and assimilated during childhood and the process of development, typical of the environment and culture of belonging.

2. Artificial language

It is understood as such all that language created and used consciously with the aim of fulfilling a determined objective, to express itself in a different way from the natural one or in order to specify technical aspects that can be ambivalent and difficult to understand through natural language.

Artificial language is not born spontaneously, but is created and does not respond to the purpose of general use communication. The programming language is a clear example , because it is a language to communicate with computers and between devices that compute.Therefore, it can be said that it is a type of language ad hoc , in whose origins there has been a clear specific objective, linked to a concrete context.

Among the artificial languages, we can highlight formal language, literary and poetic language as a form of emotional and artistic expression and technical language (within which we can find specific languages from different disciplines such as legal or medical language). Next we will see their characteristics.

Literary Language

The kind of written language that writers use. It may seem the same as cultured language, however, colloquial and even vulgar turns may be introduced. It is a type of language that creates beauty and complex literary plots, as well as communication. In it, the forms matter a lot, and the attempts of expression do not focus only on the explicit content of the messages . For example, having a fictional character speak with a certain accent serves to construct his role in the story, since he can inform about his ethnic or social origins.

Scientific and technical language

Scientific and technical language is made up of jargon, that is, languages used by different social groups and professional guilds and which vary from the standard language. They are also normative and objective. Language is technical in the sense that it is used in different activities, professions, or fields of science. This is because it is necessary to have clear in advance the precise meaning of the words and the ways of formulating the messages so as not to fall into procedural errors derived from a misinterpretation of what has been communicated.

The language of science is similar to the previous one. However, the main difference between the two lies in their purpose. While scientific language refers to the transmission of knowledge, technical language aims to transmit information not with a theoretical purpose, but with an immediate and specific practical purpose.

Formal language

Formal language is less personal than informal language, and is used for professional or academic purposes. This type of language does not use colloquialisms, contractions or pronouns such as “you” or “you”. Instead, it uses “your”, “you” or “you guys”.

In a way, the main raison d’être of formal language is to give the communicative context an importance or solemnity that serves to make that place or act something that is respected, that is above the individual persons who are communicating.

Depending on the communication element used

Language can also be classified according to what kind of elements are used in the communicative exchange.

1. Verbal language

Verbal language is characterised by the use of words when interacting with another person (or persons) , either through written or spoken language. However, it does not only refer to the use of words, but also to shouts, acronyms, hieroglyphics, etc.

On the other hand, this is a type of language that starts with the establishment of norms and symbols whose interpretation has been agreed upon beforehand (although there is some room for dissent). Therefore, it takes time to learn how to use it.

Oral

Oral language is basically the spoken language. This type of language is a combination of sounds used to express thought, in which the sounds are grouped into spoken words. A spoken word can be a single sound or a group of sounds . To express something these words must be grouped correctly following a series of rules.

In addition, this is one of the first types of verbal language to appear in our evolutionary history, probably alongside iconic language, or soon after.

Written

The sounds of oral language are represented by letters to form written language. In other words, oral language has equivalent words in written language. These words are printed on paper or in a computer , and express ideas, and just as in oral language, these words must be properly grouped for correct expression.

Iconic

It is another type of non-verbal language that uses basic symbols and defines ways to combine them. The basic symbols are the vocabulary, and the way to combine them is the grammar.

2. Non-verbal language

This type of language is carried out without words and, in many cases, the person carrying it out is not aware of it. The look, the way of sitting, walking, gestures, body movements, are some examples of non-verbal communication.

Kinesic

It is a type of non-verbal language that is expressed through the body . Gestures, facial expression, body movements and even body odours are kinaesthetic language.

Facial

It is a non-verbal language that appears concretely in the way the muscles of the face move, an area to which we are very sensitive, since there are areas of our brain dedicated to detecting facial expressions and giving them a meaning.

Other categories

Other categories may also be considered to classify types of language that do not fit the above criteria.

Vernacular language

The vernacular refers to the native language of the place where it is spoken. For example, French in France or Spanish in Spain. However, Spanish in Colombia or Peru are not vernacular languages.

Self-centered language

Self-centered language is a type of language that is observed in children and is an integral part of their development . Originally it was Jean Piaget who gave his name to this type of language, and this famous character claimed that it occurs because the child is not a very social being at an early age and speaks only to himself.

According to Piaget, over time, the child relates to its environment and this type of speech disappears. For Vygotsky, however, over time this type of speech evolves and helps children to organize and regulate their thinking.

Social language

Another term that Piaget coined to refer to the linguistic behavior of children . Social language is characterised by the fact that the destination of information and communication goes outwards, in an adaptive manner and to relate to the environment. The child adapts the dialogue to the interlocutor.