What’s the difference between Language, Speech and Communication?

In many of the capacity reports I am asked to review, practitioners will often use the three words interchangeably - but whilst they are closely linked, they are not the same.

Understanding the differences is vital so that we can better support those we assess and also to ensure we are getting the right outcomes in our conclusions. 

Speech: the sounds we make 

Speech directly refers to the physical act of producing sounds – and is actually a hugely complex task. It involves the coordination of our lips, tongue, teeth, palate, and voice box to create the sounds (phonemes) that make up words. The clarity of a person’s speech will also depend on accurate pronunciation, appropriate voice quality, as well as fluency. 

For example, a child who says “tat” instead of “cat” may have a speech-sound difficulty. Similarly, someone who stammers may know exactly what they want to say (language) but struggle to produce smooth, fluent speech.  

Speech difficulties can sometimes be mistaken for a lack of ability to understand, whereas what is at play is a difficulty in producing a sound that we as assessors recognise. 

Language: the system behind the words 

Language is about the rules and symbols we use to give meaning to what we say. It can be spoken, written, or signed. Language includes vocabulary (words), grammar (rules about word order). It also involves the ability to put ideas together in a way that others understand. 

We often divide language into: 

• Receptive language: understanding what others say. 

• Expressive language: putting our own thoughts into words or sentences. 

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For example, someone with receptive language difficulties might struggle to follow instructions like “put your coat under the chair,”. Someone else with expressive language difficulties, may struggle with word  finding, even though their speech muscles work perfectly well. 

Communication: the bigger picture 

Communication is the broadest term of the three and it encapsulates the whole process of receiving and sharing information with others.

Communication includes speech and language, but it is also much more. It involves non-verbal signals like facial expressions, body language, eye contact, and gestures. It also covers how we use language in social situations – what’s known as pragmatics. 

For instance, someone with autism may have good speech and language skills but still struggle with communication because they find it difficult to take turns in conversation, interpret tone of voice, or understand when someone is joking. Similarly, someone who has lost their voice due to illness may still communicate effectively using gestures, writing, or technology. 

Why the distinction matters 

Recognising the difference between speech, language, and communication helps us adapt how we support individuals – not just during assessments.  

By identifying which element is affected, helps us to know which tools and strategies to use to support the individual during assessments, as well as in every-day interactions. 

Final thoughts 

All three elements, speech, language, and communication are interrelated yet distinct. They are individual pieces of a bigger puzzle: speech is the sounds, language is the structure, and communication is the complete picture of how we connect with others.  

Understanding these differences helps us to understand those that may not always communicate in the way that we do.