Literature vs. Language: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 10, 2024
Literature is the body of written or spoken works of artistic or intellectual value. Language is a system of communication using sounds or symbols.
Key Differences
Literature is an artistic expression through written or spoken works, often reflecting cultural or societal values. Language, in contrast, is the fundamental tool enabling the creation of literature, serving as a medium for expression.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 10, 2024
Literature can take various forms such as novels, poetry, or essays, each offering a unique perspective or narrative. Language, however, is more about the structure, rules, and sounds that facilitate communication and expression.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 10, 2024
Literature often aims to evoke emotions, provoke thought, or reflect on human experiences. Language's primary function is to convey information, ideas, or feelings, irrespective of artistic merit.
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Jan 10, 2024
While literature is a product of creative and intellectual endeavor, language is a utility, essential for everyday communication and understanding.
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Jan 10, 2024
Finally, literature is often studied for its style, theme, and historical context, whereas language study focuses on grammar, syntax, and linguistics.
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Jan 10, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Purpose
Artistic and intellectual expression
Communication and information exchange
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Function
To evoke emotions, reflect on experiences
To convey information and ideas
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Role in Society
Cultural reflection, artistic value
Fundamental tool for interaction
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Jan 10, 2024
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Literature and Language Definitions
Literature
Writings of lasting artistic merit.
Shakespeare's plays are celebrated as classic literature.
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Dec 15, 2023
Language
The method of human communication.
Sign language is an important form of non-verbal communication.
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Literature
Written works considered collectively.
He devoted his life to studying American literature.
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Language
The style of verbal expression.
Her eloquent language captivated the audience.
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Literature
Works of imagination in written form.
Her novel was a significant contribution to contemporary literature.
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Language
Communication of thoughts and feelings through a system of arbitrary signals, such as voice sounds, gestures, or written symbols.
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Literature
Published writings in a particular style.
Victorian literature is known for its distinct style.
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Language
Such a system including its rules for combining its components, such as words.
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Language
Such a system as used by a nation, people, or other distinct community; often contrasted with dialect.
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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).
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Dec 13, 2023
Language
A system of signs, symbols, gestures, or rules used in communicating
The language of algebra.
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Language
(Computers) A system of symbols and rules used for communication with or between computers.
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Literature
The body of written work produced by scholars or researchers in a given field
Medical literature.
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Literature
Printed material
Collected all the available literature on the subject.
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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).
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Literature
(Music) All the compositions of a certain kind or for a specific instrument or ensemble
The symphonic literature.
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Language
A characteristic style of speech or writing
Shakespearean language.
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Language
A particular manner of expression
Profane language.
Persuasive language.
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Literature
The collected creative writing of a nation, people, group, or culture.
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Language
The manner or means of communication between living creatures other than humans
The language of dolphins.
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Literature
(usually preceded by the) All the papers, treatises, etc. published in academic journals on a particular subject.
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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
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Language
The wording of a legal document or statute as distinct from the spirit.
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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.
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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.
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Language
(uncountable) The ability to communicate using words.
The gift of language
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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.
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Language
(uncountable) A sublanguage: the slang of a particular community or jargon of a particular specialist field.
Legal language;
The language of chemistry
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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.
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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
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Language
A body of sounds, signs and/or signals by which animals communicate, and by which plants are sometimes also thought to communicate.
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Literature
The humanistic study of a body of literature;
He took a course in Russian lit
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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
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Literature
The profession or art of a writer;
Her place in literature is secure
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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.
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Dec 13, 2023
Language
The forms of speech, or the methods of expressing ideas, peculiar to a particular nation.
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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.
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Language
The inarticulate sounds by which animals inferior to man express their feelings or their wants.
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Language
The suggestion, by objects, actions, or conditions, of ideas associated therewith; as, the language of flowers.
There was . . . language in their very gesture.
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Language
The vocabulary and phraseology belonging to an art or department of knowledge; as, medical language; the language of chemistry or theology.
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Language
A race, as distinguished by its speech.
All the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshiped the golden image.
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Language
Any system of symbols created for the purpose of communicating ideas, emotions, commands, etc., between sentient agents.
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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.
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Dec 13, 2023
Language
To communicate by language; to express in language.
Others were languaged in such doubtful expressions that they have a double sense.
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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
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Dec 13, 2023
Language
(language) communication by word of mouth;
His speech was garbled
He uttered harsh language
He recorded the spoken language of the streets
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Language
A system of words used in a particular discipline;
Legal terminology
The language of sociology
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Language
The cognitive processes involved in producing and understanding linguistic communication;
He didn't have the language to express his feelings
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Language
The mental faculty or power of vocal communication;
Language sets homo sapiens apart from all other animals
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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
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Dec 13, 2023
Language
A system of communication using words.
English is a widely spoken language globally.
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Language
The words and their pronunciation.
Learning the language's pronunciation was challenging.
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Language
A means of coding information.
Programming languages are essential for software development.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is language limited to spoken and written forms?
Language includes spoken, written, and non-verbal forms like sign language.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 10, 2024
What is the primary function of literature?
Literature primarily functions as a form of artistic and intellectual expression.
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Jan 10, 2024
Are all written works considered literature?
Not all written works are considered literature; literature typically implies artistic or intellectual value.
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Jan 10, 2024
Can the same language have different literatures?
Yes, the same language can produce diverse literatures across different cultures or regions.
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Jan 10, 2024
How does language facilitate literature?
Language provides the necessary structure and medium for creating and interpreting literature.
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Jan 10, 2024
Can literature exist without language?
No, literature relies on language for its existence and expression.
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Jan 10, 2024
How does literature reflect culture?
Literature reflects and explores cultural values, beliefs, and experiences.
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Can literature change over time?
Literature evolves with changes in culture, society, and artistic trends.
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Is language learning only about vocabulary and grammar?
Language learning includes vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and cultural context.
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Jan 10, 2024
How does bilingualism affect language use?
Bilingualism can enhance cognitive flexibility and understanding of multiple cultures.
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Jan 10, 2024
What makes a piece of writing a literary work?
Literary works are distinguished by their artistic qualities and depth of expression.
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Jan 10, 2024
Is language innate or learned?
Language is primarily learned, though the capacity for language acquisition is innate in humans.
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Jan 10, 2024
Are some languages more complex than others?
All languages have complexities; perceived complexity often depends on the learner's native language.
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Jan 10, 2024
How do genres relate to literature?
Genres are categories within literature that define the style or subject matter of the work.
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Jan 10, 2024
How is contemporary literature different from classical literature?
Contemporary literature reflects current themes and styles, whereas classical literature pertains to a previous era.
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Jan 10, 2024
What role does literature play in education?
Literature plays a crucial role in developing critical thinking, empathy, and cultural awareness.
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Jan 10, 2024
Are digital forms of communication changing language?
Digital communication is influencing language use, introducing new words and altering usage patterns.
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Jan 10, 2024
Can language influence thought?
Yes, language can shape and influence the way people think and perceive the world.
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Jan 10, 2024
How is literature preserved over time?
Literature is preserved through libraries, archives, and increasingly, digital formats.
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Jan 10, 2024
Do all cultures have their own language?
Most cultures have their own language or dialects, which are integral to their identity.
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Jan 10, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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