A lingua franca is a language that is used as a means of communication among people who speak different languages. The term "lingua franca" comes from the Italian language and means "Frankish tongue," referring to the medieval Romance language that was used as a common language among traders and merchants in the Mediterranean region.

Today, lingua francas are used in a variety of contexts and can refer to any language that is used as a common means of communication among people who do not speak the same language. For example, English is often used as a lingua franca in international business and academic settings, where people from different countries and language backgrounds need to communicate with each other. Other examples of lingua francas include French and Spanish, which are used in certain regions of the world where multiple languages are spoken.



Lingua francas can be beneficial in facilitating communication and understanding among people who speak different languages. They can help to overcome language barriers and make it easier for people to share ideas and information with each other. However, the use of lingua francas can also have negative effects, such as reinforcing linguistic and cultural hierarchies and marginalizing speakers of less commonly spoken languages.