Editing Natural language

{{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>

== Defining natural language ==
Natural languages include ones that are associated with [[linguistic prescriptivism]] or [[language regulation]]. ([[Nonstandard dialect]]s can be viewed as a [[wild type]] in comparison with [[standard language]]s.) An [[official language]] with a regulating academy such as [[Standard French]], overseen by the {{Lang|fr|[[Académie Française]]|italic=no}}, is classified as a natural language (e.g. in the field of [[natural language processing]]), as its prescriptive aspects do not make it constructed enough to be a [[constructed language]] or controlled enough to be a [[controlled natural language]].

Natural language are different from:

* artificial and constructed languages, e.g. [[computer programming language]]s
* constructed [[international auxiliary language]]s
* non-human [[Biocommunication (science)|communication systems in nature]] such as [[whale vocalization|whale and other marine mammal vocalization]]s or [[honey bee]]s' [[waggle dance]].<ref name="animalwise">{{cite web |last1=Norris |first1=Paul F. |title=The Honeybee Waggle Dance – Is it a Language? |url=https://animalwise.org/2011/08/25/the-honeybee-waggle-dance-%E2%80%93-is-it-a-language/ |website=AnimalWise |access-date=10 April 2019 |date=25 August 2011 |archive-date=20 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820220552/https://animalwise.org/2011/08/25/the-honeybee-waggle-dance-%e2%80%93-is-it-a-language/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Controlled languages ==
{{Main|Controlled natural language}}

Controlled natural languages are subsets of natural languages whose grammars and dictionaries have been restricted in order to reduce [[ambiguity]] and complexity. This may be accomplished by decreasing usage of [[Comparison (grammar)|superlative]] or [[adverbial]] forms, or [[irregular verbs]]. Typical purposes for developing and implementing a controlled natural language are to aid understanding by non-native speakers or to ease computer processing. An example of a widely-used controlled natural language is [[Simplified Technical English]], which was originally developed for [[aerospace engineering|aerospace]] and [[avionics]] industry manuals.

== International constructed languages ==
{{Main|International auxiliary language}}
Being constructed, [[International auxiliary language]]s such as [[Esperanto]] and [[Interlingua]] are not considered natural languages, with the possible exception of true native speakers of such languages.<ref name="Gopsill, F. P. 1990">Gopsill, F. P., "A historical overview of international languages". In ''International languages: A matter for Interlingua''. Sheffield, England: British Interlingua Society, 1990.</ref> Natural languages evolve, through fluctuations in vocabulary and syntax, to incrementally improve human communication. In contrast, Esperanto was created by Polish ophthalmologist [[L. L. Zamenhof]] in the late 19th century.

Some natural languages have become organically "standardized" through the synthesis of two or more pre-existing natural languages over a relatively short period of time through the development of a [[pidgin]], which is not considered a language, into a stable [[creole language]]. A creole such as [[Haitian Creole]] has its own grammar, vocabulary and literature. It is spoken by over 10 million people worldwide and is one of the two official languages of the [[Republic of Haiti]].

As of 1996, there were 350 attested families with one or more [[native speakers of Esperanto]]. [[Latino sine flexione]], another international auxiliary language, is no longer widely spoken.

== See also ==
* {{annotated link|Language acquisition}}
* {{annotated link|Origin of language}}
* {{annotated link|Formal semantics (natural language)}}
* {{annotated link|Whistled language}}

== Notes ==
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== References ==
{{refbegin}}
* [[Alice ter Meulen|ter Meulen, Alice]], 2001, "Logic and Natural Language", in Goble, Lou, ed., ''The Blackwell Guide to Philosophical Logic''. Blackwell.
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[[Category:Natural language processing]]
[[Category:Neuropsychological assessment]]
[[Category:Language]]
[[Category:Philosophical logic]]
[[Category:Philosophy of language]]
[[Category:Linguistics terminology]]