* Active use: People regularly use the language for communication in everyday life, whether in spoken or written form.
* Evolving: The language changes over time through new vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciations. This evolution happens organically as speakers adapt to changing needs and societal influences.
* Dynamic: The language is constantly adapting to new situations, technologies, and cultural trends, leading to new words, expressions, and even grammatical structures.
* Spoken and written: A living language is used both in spoken and written forms, although the balance between the two can vary depending on the language and community.
* Learned from birth: Speakers of living languages typically learn the language from birth or early childhood, making it a natural part of their cultural identity.
Examples of living languages:
* English
* Spanish
* Mandarin Chinese
* Arabic
* Hindi
* French
* German
Contrast with Dead Languages:
A dead language is one that is no longer actively used in daily communication. While these languages might still be studied and used for historical or religious purposes, they are not evolving.
Examples of dead languages:
* Latin
* Ancient Greek
* Sanskrit
* Akkadian
Important Note: The distinction between "living" and "dead" isn't always clear-cut. Some languages might be considered "dying" or "endangered" if they have a limited number of speakers or are facing threats to their survival.