Our language is abrupt when short of time (4)
I believe the answer is:
erse
'our language' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'abrupt when short of time' is the wordplay.
'abrupt' becomes 'terse' (I've seen this in another clue).
'when short of' is a deletion indicator.
'time' becomes 't' (abbreviation).
'terse' with 't' taken out is 'ERSE'.
'is' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for erse that I've seen before include "Celtic tongue" , "Name sometimes given to languages of the Celts in Ireland and Scotland" , "Irish Gaelic language" , "Kind of Gaelic for seer" , "Old Celtic language" .)