What is a language of wider communication?

A language of wider communication is the language people commonly use to communicate across language and cultural boundaries.

Here are some examples of an LWC:

• National or official languages

  • Bahasa Indonesia in Indonesia
  • Mandarin in China

• International languages

  • French, Spanish, English, and Arabic

• Trade languages

  • Hiri Motu in Papua New Guinea
  • Munukutuba and Lingala in Central Africa

• Concept module: language of wider communication
• In overview module: Glossary (Literacy): L
• In modular book: Glossary of literacy terms
• In document collection: Reference materials
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 2 July 1998

© 1999 SIL International