Institution: Non Government Teachers Registration and Certification Authority (NTRCA) Exam: ১৮ তম শিক্ষক নিবন্ধন পরীক্ষা (স্কুল পর্যায়) (15-03-2024) || 2024
Topic: Idioms & Phrases, Subject: English Grammar (ইংরেজি গ্রামার)

Best Answer Explained in Below-:

The term "lingua franca" refers to a language that is adopted as a common means of communication between speakers of different native languages. Historically, it emerged from the need for trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange among diverse linguistic communities. A classic example is the use of the Mediterranean Lingua Franca in the 17th to 19th centuries, where Italian, Spanish, French, and other languages were blended to facilitate communication among traders and seafarers.

Option A, "common language," encapsulates this concept accurately, as a lingua franca serves as an intermediary language that allows people from different backgrounds to communicate effectively. The other options do not fit this definition: "maiden speech" (B) refers to a person's first public address, "second language" (C) implies a language learned in addition to one's mother tongue, and "mother tongue" (D) refers specifically to a person's native language. Thus, the correct choice that aligns with the established meaning of "lingua franca" is A) common language.