Diction vs. Language — What's the Difference?

Diction (Latin: dictionem (nom. dictio), "a saying, expression, word"), in its original meaning, is a writer's or speaker's distinctive vocabulary choices and style of expression in a poem or story.

A language is a structured system of communication used by humans, based on speech and gesture (spoken language), sign, or often writing. The structure of language is its grammar and the free components are its vocabulary.

Choice and use of words in speech or writing.

Communication of thoughts and feelings through a system of arbitrary signals, such as voice sounds, gestures, or written symbols.

Degree of clarity and distinctness of pronunciation in speech or singing; enunciation.

Such a system including its rules for combining its components, such as words.

Choice and use of words, especially with regard to effective communication.

Such a system as used by a nation, people, or other distinct community; often contrasted with dialect.

The effectiveness and degree of clarity of word choice and expression.

A system of signs, symbols, gestures, or rules used in communicating

(theatre) Enunciation, pronunciation.

(Computers) A system of symbols and rules used for communication with or between computers.

Choice of words for the expression of ideas; the construction, disposition, and application of words in discourse, with regard to clearness, accuracy, variety, etc.; mode of expression; language; as, the diction of Chaucer's poems.

Body language; kinesics.

The articulation of speech regarded from the point of view of its intelligibility to the audience

The special vocabulary and usages of a scientific, professional, or other group

The manner in which something is expressed in words;

A characteristic style of speech or writing

A particular manner of expression

The manner or means of communication between living creatures other than humans

Verbal communication as a subject of study.

The wording of a legal document or statute as distinct from the spirit.

(countable) A body of words, and set of methods of combining them (called a grammar), understood by a community and used as a form of communication.

(uncountable) The ability to communicate using words.

(uncountable) A sublanguage: the slang of a particular community or jargon of a particular specialist field.

The expression of thought (the communication of meaning) in a specified way; that which communicates something, as language does.

A body of sounds, signs and/or signals by which animals communicate, and by which plants are sometimes also thought to communicate.

A computer language; a machine language.

(uncountable) Manner of expression.

(uncountable) The particular words used in a speech or a passage of text.

(uncountable) Profanity.

A languet, a flat plate in or below the flue pipe of an organ.

To communicate by language; to express in language.

An admonishment said in response to vulgar language.

Any means of conveying or communicating ideas;

The expression of ideas by writing, or any other instrumentality.

The forms of speech, or the methods of expressing ideas, peculiar to a particular nation.

The characteristic mode of arranging words, peculiar to an individual speaker or writer; manner of expression; style.

The inarticulate sounds by which animals inferior to man express their feelings or their wants.

The suggestion, by objects, actions, or conditions, of ideas associated therewith; as, the language of flowers.

The vocabulary and phraseology belonging to an art or department of knowledge; as, medical language; the language of chemistry or theology.

A race, as distinguished by its speech.

Any system of symbols created for the purpose of communicating ideas, emotions, commands, etc., between sentient agents.

Any set of symbols and the rules for combining them which are used to specify to a computer the actions that it is to take; also referred to as a computer lanugage or programming language; as, JAVA is a new and flexible high-level language which has achieved popularity very rapidly.

To communicate by language; to express in language.

A systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols;

(language) communication by word of mouth;

A system of words used in a particular discipline;

The cognitive processes involved in producing and understanding linguistic communication;

The mental faculty or power of vocal communication;

The text of a popular song or musical-comedy number;