But really, isn’t the “Franca” part from the Frankish language used in West Germany / Northern France / Benelux? Apparently the Byzantines called all Western Europeans “Franks” and the Lingua Franca was the simplified Italian / Spanish language with many Greek, Slavic, Arabic and Turkish loan words used for trade around the Carribean. So, it’s more “English is the European Language” or maybe “English is the language to use with Europeans”.
A Latin term used in English to indicate French.
But really, isn’t the “Franca” part from the Frankish language used in West Germany / Northern France / Benelux? Apparently the Byzantines called all Western Europeans “Franks” and the Lingua Franca was the simplified Italian / Spanish language with many Greek, Slavic, Arabic and Turkish loan words used for trade around the Carribean. So, it’s more “English is the European Language” or maybe “English is the language to use with Europeans”.
I was hoping someone would correct me!
I knew that translating Franca as French was anachronistic but didn’t know where to start.
I’d forgotten about the Franks.
There’s a Brexit joke in there somewhere.
Definitely, but I think the Brexiteers get a last laugh because AFAIK EU business is still done in English.
The lingua franca per se.