This essay clarifies some of the basic concepts and dichotomies involved when discussing language rights (LRs) and the subcategory linguistic human rights (LHRs), both in general and, especially, in education. These are seen in relation to the integration of societies. All the rights that people or collectivities have in relation to languages (their own or others) are linguistic rights or language rights (LRs). These two terms are mostly used as synonyms. Some researchers regard linguistic rights as a somewhat broader concept than language rights; in this case they are often discussing rights not only to various languages but also to varieties within the ‘language’ label, e.g., regional, gender-based or class-based varieties. Intralinguistic rights are according to this approach seen as a part of linguistic but not language rights. Others feel that both labels include all the rights, regardless of whether we are talking about languages or varieties. Language rights have been discussed for centuries, and the first multilateral treaties about language rights are from the 1880s. Our present human rights (HRs) are from the period after the Second World War but there were many human rights treaties signed as early as under the League of Nations after the First World War. The concept of linguistic human rights (LHRs) combines language rights with human rights and is a fairly recent phenomenon. So far, it is not clear what should and what should not be considered LHRs; there are lively ongoing debates about the topic. Therefore, concept clarification is in order. LHRs should be those (and only those) LRs, which, first, are necessary to satisfy people's basic needs (including the need to live a dignified life), and which, secondly, therefore are so basic, so fundamental that no state (or individual or group) is supposed to violate them. There are many LRs which are not LHRs. In discussions of LRs and HRs, it is also examined which language rights are necessary so that indigenous peoples and minorities do not need to assimilate but can participate in mutual integration of societies. Granting such LRs is seen as part of necessary conflict avoidance.