Lengua y lenguaje

[lingos]

hello

how come there is lengua and lenguaje?

is -je a common suffix used in other words as well?

what does it mean?

thanks

[Ambarina]

Lengua and lenguaje are the same when meaning "a verbal communication system".

La lengua/el lenguaje se utiliza para expresar lo que uno siente.

From there on they separate:

Lengua:

Tongue (the organ and synomym of language directly below)

Language (French, Spanish, etc. synonym of "idioma")

The language of a group of people or a particular period in time - La lengua de Cervantes, la lengua del medievo, la lengua catalana.


Lenguaje:

The way/style of expressing oneself: lenguaje callejero, académico, grosero, educado

Technical communication as in computer language - lenguaje informático

Other types of communication - the language of flowers (el lenguaje de las flores), the language of fans (el lenguaje de los abanicos), etc.

The use of or the capacity to speak - el lenguaje se aprende desde la cuna por imitación.


The suffix you mentioned -aje is often used to make verbs into nouns, as mentioned in a previous post - amerizar, amerizaje, i.e. to land on water, a water landing.

I'm sure my answer is not complete but hope it helps.

[Fazor]

If I'm understanding you Ambarina, lengua and lenguaje are the same when using them to mean "language", but each have other uses that varry.

And, "idioma" is also synonomous with lengua and lenguaje when using it to mean "language".

¿Verdad?

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Fazor

If I'm understanding you Ambarina, lengua and lenguaje are the same when using them to mean "language", but each have other uses that varry.

And, "idioma" is also synonomous with lengua and lenguaje when using it to mean "language".

¿Verdad?

Idioma is usually only associated with language, so it'll always be a synonym of lenguaje and lengua when they mean language.

[Ambarina]

Originally Posted by Fazor

If I'm understanding you Ambarina, lengua and lenguaje are the same when using them to mean "language", but each have other uses that varry.

And, "idioma" is also synonomous with lengua and lenguaje when using it to mean "language".
Yes But what "language" are you talking about?

¿Verdad?

Idioma español = lengua española ≈ lenguaje español

Perhaps, to make it easier:
If you're thinking about a particular language like French, Spanish, English, etc. then you'd use Lengua or Idioma.
If you're thinking about any other type or style of language (computer, flowers, sign, street, academic) then you'd use Lenguaje.
Is that clearer? Or am I just confusing myself and everybody else?

[Fazor]

Got it. I usually use "idioma" over "lengua" when talking about a specific language. I think that's because if I can use a word that's not close to the English equivilant I tend to go that way.

El lenguaje corporal es importante cuando se entervista por un trabajo nuevo.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by lingos

hello

how come there is lengua and lenguaje?

is -je a common suffix used in other words as well?

what does it mean?

thanks

I think that this would be easy to explain.

Legua meaning tongue.

Lenguaje meaning language.


I hope this can help you.

[chileno]

@ all native English speakers:

Is this question valid in English?

What tongue does your mother speak?

[Rusty]

It's a valid question, but may not be as popular as What language does your mother speak?
What other languages do you speak? is more common than
What other tongues do you speak?, but both are valid questions. To my ears, there is no difference between the two.

The phrase 'mother tongue' seems to be a set phrase. I've heard 'native tongue' and 'native language' used instead, but I don't believe I've ever heard 'mother language'.

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by chileno

@ all native English speakers:

Is this question valid in English?

What tongue does your mother speak?

Yes, but using "language" is much more common. Oops, didn't see Rusty's reply.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by Rusty

It's a valid question, but may not be as popular as What language does your mother speak?
What other languages do you speak? is more common than
What other tongues do you speak?, but both are valid questions. To my ears, there is no difference between the two.

The phrase 'mother tongue' seems to be a set phrase. I've heard 'native tongue' and 'native language' used instead, but I don't believe I've ever heard 'mother language'.

As you have said before, the phrase What does tongue speak is less common than What does language you speak.

I think that the word tongue sound bad if you are referring to if you speak one language or not, therefore I believe that the word language is more correct in that phrase, I haven't doubt in it.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Rusty

It's a valid question, but may not be as popular as What language does your mother speak?
What other languages do you speak? is more common than
What other tongues do you speak?, but both are valid questions. To my ears, there is no difference between the two.

The phrase 'mother tongue' seems to be a set phrase. I've heard 'native tongue' and 'native language' used instead, but I don't believe I've ever heard 'mother language'.

Right. I have heard all of those before. Just wanted to ask, as it seemed to me that lingos was having problem with them in Spanish, and I was wondering if he did not understand the same is used in English.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

As you have said before, the phrase What does tongue speak is less common than What does language you speak.

I think that the word tongue sound bad if you are referring to if you speak one language or not, therefore I believe that the word language is more correct in that phrase, I haven't doubt in it.

But don't forget that "mother tongue", in English, is the same than "lengua materna", in Spanish.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by irmamar

But don't forget that "mother tongue", in English, is the same than "lengua materna", in Spanish.

It sound more as Lengo de tu madre.

Tongue mother.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

It sound more as Lengo de tu madre.

Tongue mother.

What is "Lengo"? I think you meant "lengua".