* It's used as a proper noun: This means it refers to a specific language, like "English," "Spanish," or "Mandarin."
* It's part of a formal name: For example, "American Sign Language" or "Braille."
* It's used as an adjective: This applies when the language describes something, like "I'm learning German literature."
Here are some examples:
Capitalized:
* English is spoken in many countries.
* I'm fluent in French and Spanish.
* American Sign Language is used by deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.
Not capitalized:
* I'm learning to speak a new language.
* They spoke in broken english.
* The book is translated into multiple languages.
Important note: While languages are typically capitalized, there are some exceptions, like "arabic numerals." These are not capitalized because they are not referring to the language "Arabic."
If you're ever unsure, it's always best to err on the side of capitalization!