article: Lingua franca
links: Creole language Austro-Hungarian Empire Holy Roman Empire Russian language Nepali language Roman Empire Renaissance Italian language Czech Republic British Empire French language Official language Yiddish United Nations Tok Pisin World War I Byzantine Empire Franks Crusades Quechua Latin language Commonwealth of Nations Roman Catholic Church United States European Economic Community Portuguese language Sanskrit English language Chinese language Polish language Arabic language Sango Croatia Mediterranean Sea Tupi Pidgin Middle Ages World War II Spanish language Bengali language Slovenia Persian language Second Vatican Council Treaty of Versailles Vatican City Esperanto Slovakia Greek language German language Afrikaans Ottoman empire United Kingdom Hebrew language Turkish language Europe