language or the language

Hi,

I looked up the Collins Cobuild Compact English learner Dictionary for the word 'language' because many times I see that word with the and many times without the eventhough the situations seem very similar or in some cases they look to be confusingly similar.

For languge, the dictionary had this example and I want to ask you how can I tell which definition it is referring to or being refer to when two definitions seem to be applicable.

language

N-C a language is a system of sounds and written symbols used by the people of a particular country, area, or tribe to communite with each ohter.

N-U Language is the ability to use words in order to communicate. ... how children acquire language.

Let us plug in some definitional phrases by the dictionary to see if one can make some senses as I or that person seems to be capable of.

1st definition as to me: ... how children acquire a language of a particular country. (Sounds OK)

2nd definition as to me: ... how children acquire the ability to use words to communicate (Sounds OK too)

Both sound OK to me and how a person like me know which one is applicable. Help.