“Lingua franca” can refer to a hybrid language used for communication between people who speak different languages, or a widely used language for communication between people of different cultures. It is a vehicular language, not a vernacular one. French and English have been used as lingua francas, as have pidgin languages.
The term “lingua franca” has two different meanings. The first refers to a hybrid language that integrates several European languages. This language was once widely spoken along the Mediterranean, used as a common means of communication between people who otherwise could not have spoken to each other. In the second sense, a lingua franca is a language that is widely used as a basis of communication between people of different communities and cultures. This meaning is clearly related to the original meaning of the word.
Language is one of the major barriers to communication between people from different regions of the world. Generally, within a common geographic area, people may share a single common language although they speak different dialects. This ensures that people are able to trade and communicate on basic matters, often through a hybrid language that integrates different dialects. This language becomes known as lingua franca, because it is considered a vehicular language, rather than a vernacular language.
A vernacular or dialect is a language spoken by a relatively small and isolated group of people. For example, Portuguese is a vernacular language spoken by people in Portugal. A vehicular language, on the other hand, is one that is used to communicate with people in other regions, who may speak unique vernacular languages themselves. In the Middle East, for example, Classical Arabic can be used as a target language by people who speak different dialects.
French and English have both been known as common languages at various times in history. French, for example, was once the lingua franca of diplomacy, with diplomats communicating in French during formal meetings and conferences. English is often treated as a lingua franca of the technology sector, enabling people of different nations to communicate on various technological issues. In Africa, languages like Swahili are sometimes used in this way by people of different tribes and regions.
Many pidgin languages are also treated as a form of lingua franca. Pidgin languages commonly developed when Europeans have contact with regional tribes, for example; they are designed to facilitate communication between these radically different cultures. Pidgin is usually simple and clear, and may not be ideal for complex concepts or ideas, but it is perfectly suited for basic trading and trading.
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