#12 - Langue & Langage

Langue or langage?  These two French words, both so similar in meaning, are in fact very particular in terms of how and when you use them.  At first, I thought the distinction was quite clear, but as I dig deeper into examples and definitions, I find that the relationship between these two words is complex and highly nuanced.  They function rather like the two lenses in a pair of glasses; you can close one eye for a moment and look through only one lens or the other, but looking through both together gives us a rich, in-depth view of what "language" really is. 

Langue means both the "tongue" in your mouth and the "language" you speak--similar to archaic English, in which we also used the word "tongue" to refer to spoken language.  (We still use it occasionally in that sense: for example, when we talk about the religious experience of "speaking in tongues.")  Basically, any world language that you can name--Chinese, Arabic, Swahili, French, etc.--is a langue.  

The word langage, on the other hand, is harder to define.  In the simplest terms, I suppose you could say that langage refers to almost every other type of language that you can't point out on a map.  For example:

• langage du corps - "body language"
• langage de programmation - "programming language"
• langage parlé - "spoken language" (as opposed to written)
• langage courant - informal, everyday language
• langage familier - very casual language (i.e. slang)
• langage soutenu - formal, academically correct language

It can also be used to describe the genre of language being used.  You could write an article in langage technique or scientifique.  There are also many kinds of philosophical or literary langages like langage figuré or langage symbolique.

Plus, there are concepts such as:

• double langage - "doublespeak" or "talking out of both sides of your mouth"
• abus de langage* - to use a word incorrectly (giving it a meaning that it doesn't have)
• écart de langage* - to use language that is inappropriate (i.e. vulgar) in a given situation

*By the way, does anybody else find it funny that abus de langage (literally, "abuse of language") is actually a simple misuse of language, while écart de langage (literally, "gap/disparity of language") is what English-speakers would more likely call abusive or inappropriate language?  As if being unintentionally vulgar is less serious than unintentionally misusing a word.  Honestly, for the French, it probably is.  :-P

HOWEVER (and this is where it gets complicated), I need to point out that langue can also be used to describe a style of language.  A book can be written in langue riche ("rich language") or its opposite, langue pauvre (literally, "poor language" or language that suffers from a dearth of vocabulary, precision, or subtlety).

Langue can indicate the language and writings of a particular author (la langue de Victor Hugo) or, more figuratively, the unique style of any kind of artist (la langue de Van Gogh).

It can also refer to particular subjects, like la langue de la raison ("the language of reason") or la langue de l'amour ("the language of love"), both of which the French do very well.  Just ask Jean-Jacques Rousseau or Pierre Corneille.

As if all of this wasn't complicated enough, let's go back one more time to the word langage.  Although it often refers to the specific use of language, it also means "language" in the most general sense: as a universal human ability for verbal communication.  To study the theory of language is to study the théorie de langage, and the very first definition that LaRousse offers for langage is:

"Capacité, observée chez tous les hommes, d'exprimer leur pensée et de communiquer au moyen d'un système de signes vocaux et éventuellement graphiques (la langue)."
("The ability, observed among all humans, to express their thoughts and communicate via a system of vocal, and potentially visual, signs (language)."

So where does that leave us?  Langue means both world languages and unique styles of language, and langage refers to both specific genres of language and the general concept of language.  Like that's not confusing!  But still, I feel that there's a kind of logic behind these distinctions.  The best way that I can explain it is this:

Langue is literary, poetic, cultural, and social--a way of expressing oneself.

Langage is technical, precise, and pragmatic--a means to a end.

Perhaps those definitions are not perfect, but to me they capture the essence of these two words.  Like fierté and orgueil, the line between langue and langage is very fine and frought with strange overlaps, but they are still subtle, invaluable lenses through which to view human nature and how we interact with each other.