Linguas

Linguas is a term that appears in linguistic discourse as a reference to languages in a broad, plural sense. It is formed from lingua, the Latin word for tongue or language, and it is occasionally encountered in English and other languages as a non-technical plural meaning "languages." In standard Latin, the plural is linguae; in many modern Romance languages, the corresponding plural forms are formed differently, and "linguas" may appear in older spellings or as a transliteration in multilingual texts. Because of its irregular status, "linguas" is not a canonical technical term in contemporary linguistics, but it is sometimes used in essays, poetry, or discussions that aim to evoke linguistic diversity.

In linguistic scholarship, the study of linguas would cover core language phenomena such as phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and sociolinguistic context. The term is sometimes used to emphasize that languages are social instruments shaped by contact, migration, policy, and identity, rather than discrete, static systems. Researchers may examine how linguas diverge and converge, how language families reflect historical relationships, and how language endangerment and preservation intersect with culture and politics.

In popular and fictional usage, Linguas may appear as a project name, a fictional language family, or an organization focused on language data collection. While not a standard technical term, the word "linguas" functions as a concise, approachable label for literature and discussions about languages in general.