Learn Hardcore Japanese: watasi ha nihongo to iu gengo wo benkyousite imasu. - I am studying the language called Japanese.

So 私は sets 私 as the topic of the sentence: “As for me, I am studying…”.
The grammatical subject in Japanese is often marked by が, but in simple sentences, the topic (は) often overlaps with what English sees as the subject, so beginners often treat 私は as simply “I”.

You could often drop 私は completely if it’s clear from context who is studying:

日本語という言語を勉強しています。
“(I) am studying the language called Japanese.”

Why do we need 日本語という言語 instead of just 日本語?

You don’t need it in everyday conversation. The most natural everyday sentence is:

日本語を勉強しています。 – “I’m studying Japanese.”

日本語という言語 literally means “the language that is called Japanese” and is:

more explicit
slightly more formal or explanatory
often used when you want to clarify that you are talking about a language (言語) specifically, not culture, people, etc.

It’s something you might see in explanations, textbooks, or formal writing, for example when contrasting multiple languages:

私は日本語という言語と中国語という言語を勉強しています。
“I am studying the languages called Japanese and Chinese.”

What exactly does という mean in 日本語という言語?

という is a set phrase built from:

と: “quotation” particle (like quotation marks in English)
いう: dictionary form of 言う (“to say / to be called”)

So 日本語という言語 literally is:

日本語 – “Japanese (language)”
という – “that is called”
言語 – “language”

≈ “the language that is called Japanese”

This pattern X という Y means “a Y that is called X” or “a Y known as X”:

田中という人 – “a person named Tanaka”
ポケモンというゲーム – “a game called Pokémon”

Is と here the same と as in “and” (like A と B)?

It’s the same written particle と, but a different function.

A と B – と as “and” (linking nouns)
「日本語」と言う – と as the quotation particle, marking what is said or called

In 日本語という言語, the underlying structure is:

「日本語」と言う言語 – “a language that is said/called ‘Japanese’”

In everyday writing, the quotes and the kanji for 言う are often dropped, giving 日本語という言語.

Why do we need 言語 at all? Could we just say 日本語という?

Yes, you can drop 言語 if the noun is clear from context.

日本語という言語 – “the language called Japanese”
日本語という
- (understood noun) – “(the one) called Japanese”

But usually, if you’re going to omit 言語, you also drop という, and just say:

日本語を勉強しています。

Using 日本語という言語 is mainly for clarity or emphasis in contexts where you really want to highlight that it’s a language (for example, in a linguistics class or a textbook definition).

What does the particle を do in 言語を勉強して?

を marks the direct object of the verb — the thing the action is done to.

言語 – “language”
言語を勉強して – “study the language”

So を answers “What are you studying?”
→ “(I am) studying the language”

Why is it 勉強しています and not just 勉強します?

勉強しています uses the te-form + いる pattern, which usually expresses:

an ongoing action / current activity
→ “I am (in the process of) studying”
or a regular, continuing state/habit
→ “I am (currently) studying Japanese” as an ongoing project

勉強します is the polite non-past:

can mean future: “I will study”
or habitual: “I study (regularly)”

Both are possible, but:

今、日本語を勉強しています。 – “I am studying Japanese now / these days.” (ongoing)
毎日日本語を勉強します。 – “I study Japanese every day.” (habit)

What is the role of して in 勉強しています?

して is the te-form of する (“to do”).

勉強する – “to study” (literally “to do study”)
勉強して – “doing study and…” (te-form, which connects to something)

When you attach いる/います to the te-form, you get the progressive / continuous aspect:

勉強している – “am studying / am in the state of studying”
勉強しています – polite form of that

So 勉強しています is one grammatical unit meaning “am studying”.

Why is it います and not いる at the end?

いる is the plain (informal) form.
います is the polite ます-form.

Since the sentence is using polite style (with 勉強して + います, and also with 私), います keeps the politeness level consistent.

Informal: 日本語という言語を勉強している。
Polite: 日本語という言語を勉強しています。

Could you say 私は日本語を勉強しています instead? Is there any difference?

Yes, and that’s actually the most natural version in everyday use:

私は日本語を勉強しています。

The difference:

日本語という言語 – more explicit and explanatory; sounds like you are defining or specifying the type of thing (a language).
日本語 – normal, natural way to say “Japanese (language)” in almost all situations.

Unless you have a specific reason to highlight “the language called ~”, use 日本語を勉強しています.

Is 私 always the best word for “I”? What about 僕 or just omitting it?

私 (わたし) is:

polite
gender-neutral in most formal contexts
very safe for learners

Other options:

僕 (ぼく) – commonly used by males, casual to semi-polite
俺 (おれ) – very casual, masculine, can sound rough
Often, Japanese just omit the pronoun if it’s obvious:
- 日本語を勉強しています。
  Context tells the listener that “I” am the one studying.

Your sentence with 私 is grammatically fine, but in conversation it’s very common to drop 私は if the subject is already known.

Why is the word order [I] [topic] [language] [object] [study-ing-am]? It feels backwards compared to English.

Japanese basic word order is S–O–V (Subject–Object–Verb), while English is S–V–O.

Your sentence:

私 – I (topic/subject)
は – topic marker
日本語という言語 – the language called Japanese (object)
を – object marker
勉強しています – am studying (verb phrase)

So the structure is literally:

As for me, [Japanese (the language)] [object] [study-ing am].

In Japanese, the verb always comes at the end of the sentence, and particles (は, を, が, に, etc.) show the roles of words, so word order is more flexible than in English, but the verb-final pattern is very stable.

Are spaces between the words normal in Japanese writing?

No. In standard Japanese writing, words are not separated by spaces.

The sentence would normally be written as:

私は日本語という言語を勉強しています。

Spaces are often added in teaching materials to help learners see word boundaries and particles. Native texts (books, newspapers, etc.) do not use these spaces.

Does 勉強しています mean I’m literally studying right now?

It can mean “right now,” but it doesn’t always.

～ている (here, 勉強している) has two main readings:

Ongoing action right now
- 今、図書館で日本語を勉強しています。
  “I am studying Japanese at the library now.”
Ongoing state / process over a period of time
- 日本語を勉強しています。
  “I’m studying Japanese (these days / as a course / as a hobby).”

Context decides which nuance is intended. In isolation, many people will understand it as “I’m currently in the process of learning Japanese.”