Distinguishing features of a particular language. These include lexico-grammatical and textual features, writing system(s), phonetic systems, and cultural elements which influence language use, such as:

• politeness or kinship protocols

• the nature of language communities which use the language

• the historical and/or current relationship of a language with education in Australia

• features of its ‘learnability’ in terms of teaching and learning in the context of Australian schooling.