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 ainting:

 

[whl626]

The picture is even clearer now