What term refers to a language adopted as a common means of communication between speakers with different native languages?

• A. Lingua Franca
• B. Pidgin
• C. Creole
• D. Standard English

Answer: (A)

Using a common language to bridge speakers of different native languages is called a lingua franca. This term describes a language adopted specifically because it serves as a practical bridge for communication among people who do not share a first language. It’s not tied to a single group or country; its function is to facilitate understanding between diverse speakers. English today often serves as a global lingua franca, but historically many languages have filled that role in various regions, such as Swahili in East Africa or French in parts of Europe and Africa in the past.

A pidgin, by contrast, is a simplified system that develops to enable basic communication between groups with different languages, usually with limited vocabulary and grammar and not typically anyone’s native language. A creole is a fully developed language that arises when a pidgin becomes natively spoken across generations. Standard English describes a specific language variety, not the general idea of a bridging language.