Here's a breakdown:
* A language is a system of communication using words, symbols, and gestures. It's the tool we use to express thoughts, ideas, and emotions. Examples include English, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and American Sign Language.
* The study of language, also known as linguistics, is the scientific exploration of language. It examines how languages are structured, how they change, and how they are used in different situations. It includes areas like:
* Phonetics: The study of speech sounds
* Phonology: The study of how sounds are organized in a language
* Morphology: The study of word formation
* Syntax: The study of sentence structure
* Semantics: The study of meaning
* Pragmatics: The study of how language is used in context
In simpler terms:
* Language is what you speak, read, and write.
* The study of language is the exploration of how language works, its structure, and its use.
Think of it like this:
* Language is like the car.
* The study of language is like the manual that tells you how the car works.
You can drive a car without understanding how the engine works. Similarly, you can use a language without studying its structure. But studying language can help you understand it better and use it more effectively.