tungumálið

Tungumálið refers to the concept of language as a system of communication used by humans. A language consists of signs—spoken sounds, written symbols, or signed gestures—that a community agrees upon to convey meaning. Languages have structure: phonology (sound systems), morphology (word formation), syntax (sentence structure), semantics (meaning), and pragmatics (contextual use). They are learned socially and transmitted from one generation to the next.

Languages vary across communities and give rise to dialects and sociolects. Many languages have standardized forms for education, government, and media. They are dynamic, changing through contact with other languages, the introduction of new terms, and shifts in usage. Language is employed in daily life, literature, journalism, law, and technology; multilingualism is common in many regions.

Key features of language include displacement (talking about things not present), productivity (creating new sentences and expressions), and conventionality (shared rules within a speech community). Sign languages are full languages with their own grammars and modalities.

Linguistics is the scientific study of tungumálið, examining its structure, history, acquisition, and social role. In Icelandic contexts, tungumálið can refer to the Icelandic language, a North Germanic language descended from Old Norse. Icelandic is often noted for its conservative grammar and distinctive orthography, which includes letters such as þ, ð, æ, and ö.