Difference Wiki

Language vs. Literature

The main difference between Language and Literature is that Language is the study or review of sounds, words, and sentences, whereas Literature is the study or review of any work written.

Key Differences

Language is first to be originated; conversely, literature only exists with language.
Language is a system of symbols and meanings that follows grammatical rules; on the flip side, literature is artistic work.
Aimie Carlson
Apr 01, 2020
Language is both in written and spoken form; on the other hand, literature is in written form only.
Language is a set of different words and sounds; on the other hand, literature means to analyze and study written material.
Janet White
Apr 01, 2020
The evolution rate in the language is very fast, whereas the evolution rate in literature is slow.
Language studies rules and figures of sentences, whereas literature studies the work and style of different writers.
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A language is a systematic statement having sounds and symbols. Literature consists of formal written novels, plays, and poetry.
Aimie Carlson
Apr 01, 2020
We can study the language through literature; on the other side, the literature supports us in learning or studying the language.
Samantha Walker
Apr 01, 2020
Language always and speedily evolves every moment, whereas the evolution of literature is comparatively slow and nebulous.
Harlon Moss
Apr 01, 2020
Language is more technical on the flip side; literature is less technical.
Janet White
Apr 01, 2020
Language includes different signs, rules, and limitations, while literature includes everything written, which can be a symbol, a grammatical rule, or anything else.

Comparison Chart

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Language is a system of symbols and different meanings under grammatical control.
The written material is called literature. It is the study of written or composed work.
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Written/ Spoken Aspects

Written as well as a spoken form
Written form

Interconnection

We can study the language through literature.
Literature trains us about a language.

Evolution

Always and speedily evolves every moment
Comparatively slow and nebulous
Janet White
Apr 01, 2020

Language and Literature Definitions

Language

Communication of thoughts and feelings through a system of arbitrary signals, such as voice sounds, gestures, or written symbols.

Literature

The body of written works of a language, period, or culture.

Language

Such a system including its rules for combining its components, such as words.
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Literature

Imaginative or creative writing, especially of recognized artistic value
"Literature must be an analysis of experience and a synthesis of the findings into a unity" (Rebecca West).

Language

Such a system as used by a nation, people, or other distinct community; often contrasted with dialect.

Literature

The art or occupation of a literary writer.

Language

A system of signs, symbols, gestures, or rules used in communicating
The language of algebra.

Literature

The body of written work produced by scholars or researchers in a given field
Medical literature.

Language

(Computers) A system of symbols and rules used for communication with or between computers.

Literature

Printed material
Collected all the available literature on the subject.

Language

Body language; kinesics.

Literature

(Music) All the compositions of a certain kind or for a specific instrument or ensemble
The symphonic literature.

Language

The special vocabulary and usages of a scientific, professional, or other group
"his total mastery of screen language—camera placement, editing—and his handling of actors" (Jack Kroll).

Literature

The body of all written works.

Language

A characteristic style of speech or writing
Shakespearean language.

Literature

The collected creative writing of a nation, people, group, or culture.

Language

A particular manner of expression
Profane language.
Persuasive language.

Literature

(usually preceded by the) All the papers, treatises, etc. published in academic journals on a particular subject.

Language

The manner or means of communication between living creatures other than humans
The language of dolphins.

Literature

Written fiction of a high standard.
However, even “literary” science fiction rarely qualifies as literature, because it treats characters as sets of traits rather than as fully realized human beings with unique life stories. —Adam Cadre, 2008

Language

Verbal communication as a subject of study.

Literature

Learning; acquaintance with letters or books.

Language

The wording of a legal document or statute as distinct from the spirit.

Literature

The collective body of literary productions, embracing the entire results of knowledge and fancy preserved in writing; also, the whole body of literary productions or writings upon a given subject, or in reference to a particular science or branch of knowledge, or of a given country or period; as, the literature of Biblical criticism; the literature of chemistry.

Language

(countable) A body of words, and set of methods of combining them (called a grammar), understood by a community and used as a form of communication.
The English language and the German language are related.
Deaf and mute people communicate using languages like ASL.

Literature

The class of writings distinguished for beauty of style or expression, as poetry, essays, or history, in distinction from scientific treatises and works which contain positive knowledge; belles-lettres.

Language

(uncountable) The ability to communicate using words.
The gift of language

Literature

The occupation, profession, or business of doing literary work.
The origin of all positive science and philosophy, as well as of all literature and art, in the forms in which they exist in civilized Europe, must be traced to the Greeks.
Learning thy talent is, but mine is sense.
Some gentlemen, abounding in their university erudition, fill their sermons with philosophical terms.

Language

(uncountable) A sublanguage: the slang of a particular community or jargon of a particular specialist field.
Legal language;
The language of chemistry

Literature

Creative writing of recognized artistic value

Language

The expression of thought (the communication of meaning) in a specified way; that which communicates something, as language does.
Body language;
The language of the eyes

Literature

The humanistic study of a body of literature;
He took a course in Russian lit

Language

A body of sounds, signs and/or signals by which animals communicate, and by which plants are sometimes also thought to communicate.

Literature

Published writings in a particular style on a particular subject;
The technical literature
One aspect of Waterloo has not yet been treated in the literature

Language

A computer language; a machine language.

Literature

The profession or art of a writer;
Her place in literature is secure

Language

(uncountable) Manner of expression.

Language

(uncountable) The particular words used in a speech or a passage of text.
The language used in the law does not permit any other interpretation.
The language he used to talk to me was obscene.

Language

(uncountable) Profanity.

Language

A languet, a flat plate in or below the flue pipe of an organ.

Language

To communicate by language; to express in language.

Language

An admonishment said in response to vulgar language.

Language

Any means of conveying or communicating ideas;

Language

The expression of ideas by writing, or any other instrumentality.

Language

The forms of speech, or the methods of expressing ideas, peculiar to a particular nation.

Language

The characteristic mode of arranging words, peculiar to an individual speaker or writer; manner of expression; style.
Others for language all their care express.

Language

The inarticulate sounds by which animals inferior to man express their feelings or their wants.

Language

The suggestion, by objects, actions, or conditions, of ideas associated therewith; as, the language of flowers.
There was . . . language in their very gesture.

Language

The vocabulary and phraseology belonging to an art or department of knowledge; as, medical language; the language of chemistry or theology.

Language

A race, as distinguished by its speech.
All the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshiped the golden image.

Language

Any system of symbols created for the purpose of communicating ideas, emotions, commands, etc., between sentient agents.

Language

Any set of symbols and the rules for combining them which are used to specify to a computer the actions that it is to take; also referred to as a computer lanugage or programming language; as, JAVA is a new and flexible high-level language which has achieved popularity very rapidly.

Language

To communicate by language; to express in language.
Others were languaged in such doubtful expressions that they have a double sense.

Language

A systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols;
He taught foreign languages
The language introduced is standard throughout the text
The speed with which a program can be executed depends on the language in which it is written

Language

(language) communication by word of mouth;
His speech was garbled
He uttered harsh language
He recorded the spoken language of the streets

Language

A system of words used in a particular discipline;
Legal terminology
The language of sociology

Language

The cognitive processes involved in producing and understanding linguistic communication;
He didn't have the language to express his feelings

Language

The mental faculty or power of vocal communication;
Language sets homo sapiens apart from all other animals

Language

The text of a popular song or musical-comedy number;
His compositions always started with the lyrics
He wrote both words and music
The song uses colloquial language

What is Language?

Language is a unique and proper system of symbols, words, and other characteristics, which is under grammatical control. Language is everything in written and spoken material. We can say that language is with us by birth. Language helps to convey our feelings and expressions to others.

Language is a breathing system for literary people. Language has two different sections of an oral and written one. The oral section of language includes everything which we speak. The written section includes everything that is in written form.

Instead of sections, language also has a set of study areas. These study areas are semantic, syntax, phonology, morphology. These sections and areas are interconnected. We study different aspects of language in each area.

We all are set apart due to language. There are several spoken and written languages all over the world, like Spanish, German, Chinese, Arabic, Urdu, English, and Farsi, etc. There are also varieties of languages in these types too. All these languages sum up to form a word language.

Different people residing in different regions of the world are in contact through language. Language makes them able to share their feelings, emotions, and different informative things.

Types of Language

  • Semantics: In this type of language, we study the real meaning of language.
  • Morphology: This type of language deals with the study of conformation and configuration of words.
  • Phonology: In phonology, we study the speech sounds in a language.
  • Syntax: In syntax, we study how to form phrases and sentences by putting different words together.

What is Literature?

The study of written or composed work is known as literature. The main characteristic of literature is that it is in written form only. However, literature comes in spoken form sometimes. But when we speak about literature as a subject, then it comes only in Witten form.

Literature can also be defined as the artistic work which has high inventive importance in it. Literature is divided into further subdivisions as fiction or non-fiction. Drama, poems, novels, and short stories all are types of literature. Literature is a written, informative script created by someone who wishes to sell you something or give guidance and instructions.

Literature has different aspects of discussion in it. These aspects are nature, geographical location, modern literature, romantic period, politics, etc. Literature is a creative and innovative thing. This property is seen less in non-fiction literature. In a sense, literature deals with philosophy. E.G., Salma readout several books of English literature.

Sometimes, literature performs as high and superior quality artistic work, which contains innovations and knowledge in it. With the help of literature, we can deeply examine a language. Literature is the compact form of language which involves creative work in it.

Types of Literature

  • Romantic Literature: Romantic literature studies the romance and feelings.
  • Fiction Literature: Fiction literature studies imaginary things far from reality.
  • Non-fiction Literature: Non-fiction literature deals with the study and involvement of reality-based things.

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