Editing Natural language (section)

{{Short description|Language as naturally spoken by humans}}
{{for|the theory of inborn linguistic ability|Universal grammar}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

A '''natural language''' or '''ordinary language''' is a [[language]] that occurs naturally in a human community by a process of use, repetition, and [[Language change|change]]. It can take different forms, typically either a [[spoken language]] or a [[sign language]]. Natural languages are distinguished from [[Constructed language|constructed]] and [[formal language]]s such as [[Programming language|those used to program computers]] or to study [[logic]].<ref name="john lyons">{{cite book |last=Lyons |first=John |title=Natural Language and Universal Grammar |url= |year=1991 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0521246965 |pages=68–70}}</ref>