jQuery dataTable properties.

I am using a dataTable which I've initiated with,

var datatable = $('#datatble').DataTable({
    ... (Some stuff around there)
    oLanguage: {
        sSearch: '_INPUT_'
        lengthMenu: '_MENU_',
    },
    language: {},
    sDom: '',
});

My question is why there is a prefix for properties like sDom, oLanguage, sSearch?

Without language: {}, the lengthMenu property did not work. Without the prefix, that corresponding property didn't work.

Please explain me, why is this happening?
What are those prefix are meant?

Comments

[Larry]

prefix stand for dataType. Such as s => string, o => object, i => int etc..