Crossword Genius

Language material abridged (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

german

'language' is the definition.
(German is a language)

'material abridged' is the wordplay.
'material' becomes 'germane' (both can mean relevant or pertinent).
'abridged' means to remove the last letter.
'germane' with its final letter taken off is 'GERMAN'.

(Other definitions for german that I've seen before include "foreign" , "Rang me up about the nationality" , "Goethe's language" , "Helmut?" , "Alsatian" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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