What is Language?
Natural languages such as Spanish, Tamil, Hindi, English, etc. Formal language code tags expressed in [BCP 47](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IETF_language_tag) can be used via the [[alternateName]] property. The Language type previously also covered programming languages such as Scheme and Lisp, which are now best represented using [[ComputerLanguage]].
Example JSON-LD skeleton
This minimal example only identifies a Schema.org type. It is not a complete entity, a Google rich-result test, or a claim about a real business.
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@type": "Language"
}Full parent hierarchy
Each chain starts at a root type. Multiple paths are shown when Schema.org defines more than one parent. For very complex types, up to 256 paths are displayed; consult the official definition for the full graph.
- Thing → Intangible → Language
Direct parents: Intangible
Child types (0)
No entries listed in the available snapshot.
Properties that accept Language values (5)
| Property | On types | Description |
|---|---|---|
| availableLanguage | ContactPoint or Course or LodgingBusiness or ServiceChannel or TouristAttraction | A language someone may use with or at the item, service or place. Please use one of the language codes from the [IETF BCP 47 standard](http://tools.ietf.org/html/bcp47). See also [[inLanguage]]. |
| inLanguage | BroadcastService or CommunicateAction or CreativeWork or Event or LinkRole or PronounceableText or WriteAction | The language of the content or performance or used in an action. Please use one of the language codes from the [IETF BCP 47 standard](http://tools.ietf.org/html/bcp47). See also [[availableLanguage]]. |
| knowsLanguage | Organization or Person | Of a [[Person]], and less typically of an [[Organization]], to indicate a known language. We do not distinguish skill levels or reading/writing/speaking/signing here. Use language codes from the [IETF BCP 47 standard](http://tools.ietf.org/html/bcp47). |
| language | CommunicateAction or WriteAction | A sub property of instrument. The language used on this action. |
| subtitleLanguage | BroadcastEvent or Movie or ScreeningEvent or TVEpisode | Languages in which subtitles/captions are available, in [IETF BCP 47 standard format](http://tools.ietf.org/html/bcp47). |
Properties usable on Language (13)
This list includes properties whose domainIncludes names Language or one of its ancestors. DomainIncludes is advisory; it is not an exhaustive set of permitted properties.
| Property | Expected value types | Description |
|---|---|---|
| additionalType | Text, URL | An additional type for the item, typically used for adding more specific types from external vocabularies in microdata syntax. This is a relationship between something and a class that the thing is in. Typically the value is a URI-identified RDF class, and in this case corresponds to the use of rdf:type in RDF. Text values can be used sparingly, for cases where useful information can be added without their being an appropriate schema to reference. In the case of text values, the class label should follow the schema.org <a href="https://schema.org/docs/styleguide.html">style guide</a>. |
| alternateName | Text | An alias for the item. |
| description | Text, TextObject | A description of the item. |
| disambiguatingDescription | Text | A sub property of description. A short description of the item used to disambiguate from other, similar items. Information from other properties (in particular, name) may be necessary for the description to be useful for disambiguation. |
| identifier | PropertyValue, Text, URL | The identifier property represents any kind of identifier for any kind of [[Thing]], such as ISBNs, GTIN codes, UUIDs etc. Schema.org provides dedicated properties for representing many of these, either as textual strings or as URL (URI) links. See [background notes](/docs/datamodel.html#identifierBg) for more details. |
| image | ImageObject, URL | An image of the item. This can be a [[URL]] or a fully described [[ImageObject]]. |
| mainEntityOfPage | CreativeWork, URL | Indicates a page (or other CreativeWork) for which this thing is the main entity being described. See [background notes](/docs/datamodel.html#mainEntityBackground) for details. |
| name | Text | The name of the item. |
| owner | Organization, Person | A person or organization who owns this Thing. |
| potentialAction | Action | Indicates a potential Action, which describes an idealized action in which this thing would play an 'object' role. |
| sameAs | URL | URL of a reference Web page that unambiguously indicates the item's identity. E.g. the URL of the item's Wikipedia page, Wikidata entry, or official website. |
| subjectOf | CreativeWork, Event | A CreativeWork or Event about this Thing. |
| url | URL | URL of the item. |
Schema.org vs Google
This type's presence in Schema.org is not a Google feature approval. Check our dated Google status snapshot and Google's official Rich Results Test separately.