Broken Language
Broken Japanese, Broken English
noun, の adjective
One sided saying things means you don't know both sides of the language, causing you to speak in broken language, for example broken Japanese, or broken English.
かたこと
The reading is the reading you learned for 片 and the こと of 言葉.
私は片言の日本語でなんとかパスポートの再発行をしてもらいました。
I managed to get my passport reissued with my broken Japanese.
片言の英語しか話せないんですが、通訳なんてできるんでしょうか。
I can only speak broken English. I'm wondering if I can do things like interpretation.
うちの娘はまだ小さいので、片言ぐらいしかしゃべることができません。
Our daughter is still little, so she can only speak baby talk.