noun
- languages used to describe or analyze other languages
Usage: linguistics; technical
Examples
- Linguists use metalanguages to describe the grammar of natural languages.
- Programming documentation often employs metalanguages to explain syntax rules.
- The study of metalanguages helps us understand how we talk about language itself.
- Computer scientists develop metalanguages for defining programming language structures.
- In formal logic, metalanguages are essential for discussing logical systems.
- Teachers use metalanguages when explaining grammatical concepts to students.