What are the differences between idioma y lengua?

Question

I always think they mean the samething.

Answer 1

In English we use "language" and "tongue" in a similar way.

Answer 2

I use them interchangeably in Spanish.

¿Por qué estudias el español?

Porque me gusta la lengua / el idioma.

Answer 3

.

I'll give you an example

El idioma chino mandarín pertenece a las lenguas sino-tibetanas.

Mandarin Chinese language belongs to the Sino-Tibetan languages/ language family.

.

Thanks. - zhmelissa, Nov 20, 2012

Answer 4

Cunning linguists do it with their tongue

careful :) - ian-hill, Nov 20, 2012