English as a Lingua Franca

A lingua franca is a linguistic code that is used for communication between speakers of different languages for the majority of whom the code is not a first language. There are many lingua francas around the world, some spoken intranationally and some internationally. Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) is an example of a national lingua franca, which is used for communication among Indonesians who speak many different mother tongues. English is an international lingua franca par excellence. Other languages that serve as lingua francas include Arabic, Chinese, and Spanish. Instances of the use of lingua francas are by nature cases of intercultural communication, and therefore, an understanding of the nature and dynamics of lingua franca interactions is essential to conceptualize intercultural competence. This entry pre sents some ...