Why is "language" represented by 言葉【ことば】 instead of 言語【げんご】 in this book for learning Japanese?


In みんなの日本語初級I book, the word 「ことば」 is used to mean "language" (English,
Japanese, Russian, etc.)

> [![ことば used for
> "Languages"](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BmqRt.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/BmqRt.png)

However, I found 「言語」 as the most proper word for this type of language. The
first variant (which is used in the book) is more for some abstract language.

Why is 「ことば」 used here instead?




言語 is more of an academic term, while ことば is more colloquial and accessible.
言語 is normally used with longer compound words. Functionally, though, they
mean the same thing.

Although the example that you posted is technically academic, the use of
furigana does indicate that it is designed either for younger Japanese or for
non-native speakers. Hence, ことば is more accessible (as @tarkma has pointed
out).




言語 is more of an academic term, while ことば is more colloquial and accessible.
言語 is normally used with longer compound words. Functionally, though, they
mean the same thing.

Although the example that you posted is technically academic, the use of
furigana does indicate that it is designed either for younger Japanese or for
non-native speakers. Hence, ことば is more accessible (as @tarkma has pointed
out).

