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Japanese language is `日本語`. But if I want to say `The language of Japanese
people` - should I write `日本人の言{げん}語{ご}`?

And if I want to say the same about animals, for example `cat` - like `cat's
language` - is it right to say `猫の言語`?
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-27T10:00:29.247
18829
2015-03-10T02:43:21.820
2014-09-27T11:55:46.793
7045
7045
question
grammar word-choice usage
Proper usage of 語 and 言語 and 言葉 when speaking about someone's language
Many countries/cultural groups already have a predefined ~語 in Japanese,
アラビヤ語, セルビア語, for example.

言葉 is the all-purpose word for "words" and "language" ... the kanji do it
justice as "leaves of talk"

言語 actually leans more toward "linguistics" 言語学 or "the study of language"

言葉は水だ "language is liquid" or "language is water" ... I don't think it would
work as well using 言語 instead.

If you wanted to ask someone what languages they speak, you could ask 何語 話せますか
OR どんな言葉 話せますか
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-10T02:43:21.820
23158
2015-03-10T02:43:21.820
9542
18829
answer