Sur la délimitation et l'individuation des langues : avec des exemples pris principalement dans le domaine roman

The article is an attempt to investigate which criteria can be used by language science in order
to distinguish between the terms language (langue) and variety (variété) and identify languages
with the help of examples from the Romance languages. It notes the increase in the number
of speech forms recognized as languages since Diez. Then it establishes a difference between
linguistic (formal) or internal criteria and sociolinguistic or external criteria, endeavours to isolate
the variables that may play a part in this delimitation, and reaches the conclusion that the two
categories are not sufficient to resolve highly contentious cases. The question of what constitutes
a language can therefore not be resolved (yet) by language science alone; it is still a political issue.
Nevertheless, political decisions have (or may have) linguistic consequences. Sometimes, the
concept of polycentric or pluricentric language can alleviate the conflict.