The 12 types of language (and their characteristics)

What specific types of language do we humans use? Let's take a look at a summary of these.

Much of what we are and what we do as human beings is due to our ability to use language.

In fact, this is unparalleled among all representatives of the animal kingdom: while other species are capable of complex vocalizations (such as parrots and some corvids) and others adopt very rudimentary gestural language systems (such as chimpanzees), none other than us translate into symbols and phonemes very abstract concepts capable of being interconnected to form sentences.

Moreover, language becomes indispensable in our life in society and is key in our interpersonal relationships, and allows us to live being integrated in societies composed of millions of people.

But... What is language and what forms does it take? In this article you will learn how it is classified, through a review of the different types of a review of the types of language that exist and their characteristics..

What is language?

In the case of the human beings, the language is a system of communication, formed by signs of oral and written typeThe different types of language are used so that we can express our ideas, thoughts, emotions and feelings to other human beings, either to two or more people.

However, the different types of language have not always included both speech and the transmission of information through writing. In fact, we have been able to use language through speech for hundreds of thousands of years, but writing has only existed as such for less than 8,000 years.

On the other hand, language is only one part of communication, which is a broader concept. Being a good communicator is key to develop in day-to-day life and to succeed in interpersonal relationships, at work and in life in general, but this set of skills goes beyond the use of language.But this skill set goes beyond the use of language. To give you an idea, even the exchange of chemical signals performed by millions of invertebrate and even microscopic animals can be considered communication.

So, while the different types of language always have a cultural component and are embodied in what are known as linguistic signs (elements that communicate information that is not contained in themselves and require to have been associated with certain concepts, through learning), communication can also include emotional and innately emotionally charged aspects, such as seeing someone crying.

Communication, like language, can take different forms, since it is possible that there is more than one communicator (one person or several) or that the message is sent through a different channel.

Types of language (classified and explained)

But, But what types of language are there and what are their characteristics? In the following lines you can see a summary of the different language modalities.

According to their level of naturalness

There is more than one type of language or method of communication through which we transmit information. 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 for the purpose of communication. It is different from other types of languages, such as programming languages or mathematical language.

Thus, by natural language we mean any type of communication act that unconsciously uses the code learned and assimilated during childhood and the development process, proper to the environment and culture of belonging.

2. Artificial language

Artificial language is understood as any language created and used consciously with the aim of fulfilling a specific objective, expressing itself in a different way from the natural one or in order to specify technical aspects that may be ambivalent and difficult to understand by means of natural language.

Artificial language does not arise spontaneously, but is created and does not respond to the purpose of general-purpose communication. Programming language is a clear exampleIt is a language for communicating with computers and between computing devices. Therefore, it can be said that it is an ad hoc type of language. ad hocIt can therefore be said that it is a type of ad hoc language, whose origins have had a clear specific objective, linked to a specific context.

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

Literary language

The type of written language used by writers. It may appear to be the same as cultured language, however, colloquial and even vulgar turns of phrase can be introduced. It is a type of language that creates beauty and complex literary plots, as well as communication. In it, forms matter a great deal, and the attempts at expression are not attempts at 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 or her role in the story, since it can inform about his or her ethnic or social origins.

Scientific and technical language

Scientific and technical language is composed of jargons, i.e., they are languages used by different social groups and professional guilds and vary from 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 so because it is necessary to be clear beforehand about the precise meaning of the words and the ways in which messages are formulated so as not to make procedural errors and the way messages are formulated in order not to fall into procedural errors derived from a misinterpretation of what has been communicated.

Scientific language 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 "tu"' or "vosotros". Instead, it uses "your", "you" or "you're".

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

According to the communicative element used

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

1. Verbal language

Verbal language is characterized by the use of words when interacting with another person (or persons), either through written language, or through written language.whether through written or spoken language. However, it not only refers solely and exclusively to the use of words, but also to shouts, acronyms, hieroglyphics, etc.

On the other hand, this is a type of language that is based on the establishment of rules and symbols whose interpretation has been agreed in advance (although there is some room for dissent). Therefore, it takes time to learn to use it.

Oral

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

Moreover, this is one of the first types of verbal language to appear in our evolutionary history, probably together with iconic language, or shortly after.

Written

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

Iconic

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

2. Non-verbal language

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

Kinesthetic

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

Facial

It is a non-verbal language that appears specifically 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 meaning.

Other categories

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

Vernacular language

Vernacular language 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.

Egocentric language

Egocentric language is a type of language that is observed in children and is an integral part of their development.. It was originally Jean Piaget who gave this type of language its name, and this famous person claimed that it occurs because the child is not a very social being at an early age and speaks only for himself.

According to Piaget, with time, the child relates to his environment and this type of speech disappears. On the other hand, for Vygotsky, with time this type of speech evolves and helps children to organize and regulate their thinking.

Social language

Another term Piaget coined to refer to children's linguistic behavior.. Social language is characterized because the destination of information and communication goes outward, adaptively and to relate to the environment. The child adapts the dialogue to the interlocutor.