language ( s ) ?

[whl626]

He has the aptitude for language or languages ? As I was taught that we should use plural for something in general. I chose languages in the end. But singular form doesn't seem wrong.

Both are correct ?

[Masfer]

I think only one is correct. I would use "languages" because the other one does not seem very natural to me.

ByE!

[MikeNewYork]

He has the aptitude for language or languages ? As I was taught that we should use plural for something in general. I chose languages in the end. But singular form doesn't seem wrong.

Both are correct ?

Both are correct, but I would use the singular. The makes "language" more general, more conceptual, which fits better with aptitude. We do the same with art, writing, painting, sculpture, science, etc.

[RonBee]

What Mike said.

:wink:

(Say: "He has an aptitude for language." (Not "the aptitude".)

:)

[whl626]

Oh, this time the singular sounds more general. :)

[Tdol]

The singular sounds more like linguistic knowledge to me.

[whl626]

I got to have it registered in my mind :)

[Casiopea]

I got to have it registered in my mind :)

She has an aptitude for language.
She has an aptitude for languages such as....
She has an aptitude for tone languages.
She has an aptitude for computer languages such as C++, ....

Be my valentine

[whl626]

:) The picture is even clearer now