langue
Low (Specialist)Academic / Technical
Definition
Meaning
A specific language system, as conceived by an individual speaker, community, or as an abstract system of rules, in contrast to its concrete use (parole).
In linguistics (following Ferdinand de Saussure), the abstract, systematic rules and conventions of a language shared by a speech community, distinct from the individual, variable act of speaking.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Used almost exclusively within the field of linguistics. Has a specific theoretical meaning that is not interchangeable with the everyday word 'language'. Often contrasted with 'parole' (individual speech acts).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No substantive difference in meaning or usage. The term is used identically in academic linguistics in both regions.
Connotations
Highly technical, scholarly.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside of university-level linguistics departments or theoretical discussions. No difference in frequency between regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Langue is defined as...The langue of a community...A distinction between langue and...Saussure's concept of langue...Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “langue and parole (fixed theoretical pairing)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Core term in theoretical linguistics and semiotics. Used in essays, lectures, and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary context. Used to discuss the abstract structure of language.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- N/A - This word is not taught at A2 level.
- N/A - This word is not typically taught at B1 level.
- The linguist explained the difference between 'langue', the system of a language, and 'parole', its actual use.
- Saussure's foundational distinction between langue and parole shifted the focus of linguistics to the underlying social system shared by speakers.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of LANGUE as the ruleBOOK of a language (long, fixed rules), and PAROLE as the individual PLAY (short, variable performance) using those rules.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A CODE / LANGUAGE IS A RULEBOOK.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'язык' (yazyk) in its everyday sense. 'Langue' is a narrow theoretical term, whereas 'язык' is the general word for 'language'.
- The pair 'langue' and 'parole' is similar to the theoretical distinction between 'язык' and 'речь', but not perfectly equivalent in all theories.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'langue' to mean a specific foreign language (e.g., 'I speak three langues').
- Pronouncing it as 'lang-yoo' instead of a French-style nasalised vowel.
- Using it without defining it or introducing the term 'parole'.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'langue' primarily used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In everyday English, 'language' is used broadly. 'Langue' is a precise technical term from linguistics referring specifically to the abstract, rule-governed system underlying a language.
It is pronounced approximately like the French word, with a nasalised vowel: /lɑ̃ɡ/. A common anglicised version is /lɑŋɡ/ (like 'long' with a hard 'g').
The direct opposite, within Saussure's theory, is 'parole', meaning the individual, concrete acts of speech produced by speakers.
No. It is a specialist term. Using it outside of a linguistics context will likely cause confusion. Use 'language', 'linguistic system', or 'grammar' instead for general communication.