In the past, in French there were zone, comté, royaumes (area, county, kingdom) franc(he)s. It meant they were free of the rule of the king.
Lingua franca translate into langue franche. Not langue franque because that would be the language of the francs. But at some point in time franque and franche probably were the same word.
It would actually be closer to free language.
In the past, in French there were zone, comté, royaumes (area, county, kingdom) franc(he)s. It meant they were free of the rule of the king.
Lingua franca translate into langue franche. Not langue franque because that would be the language of the francs. But at some point in time franque and franche probably were the same word.