Difference between National Language and Official Language

A national language is a source or sign of identity for a nation or a country. National language gets its status because it is spoken by majority of the population as the first language. Apart from a few exceptions, such as India and Australia, almost all countries have a national language. A national language may also be an official language in a country, like Bengali in Bangladesh.

An official language is a language that is given a special legal status in a particular country, state, or other jurisdiction. Typically a nation's official language will be the one used in that nation's courts, parliament and administration. Although most of the countries have one official language, a country may have more than one official language for historical, political and linguistic reasons. For example, in India there are 22 official languages; each state and union territory adopts one or more official languages.

A national language, however, should not to be confused with an official language. These terms are entirely separate concepts as they are theoretically different. The basic difference between a national and an official language are appended bellow:

National Language	Official Language
Defines the people of the nation, culture, history.	Defines the existence of legislation and sovereignty of the nation.
A national language by default can become the Official language.	An Official language has to be approved legally to become the National language.
Used for general communication.	Used for official communication.
Is a socio-cultural manifestation.	Is a politico-geographical manifestation.
Has nationalism as the core function.	Has nationism as the core function.
Its function is primarily symbolic.	Its function is primarily utilitarian.