Too many lingua francas? The strange case of Arabic

The article tackles in its Section 1 the question of a viable definition of “lingua franca” as a linguistic entity, and in the ensuing sections discusses Arabic in its manifold forms and insofar as used as a (sociolinguistic) lingua franca or an auxiliary communication tool. It will be seen in 2. that the very diglossia so typical (although far from exclusive) of the Arab world is conducive to an analysis of Arabic as a lingua franca. The historical, momentous role of Arabic as a lexical donor in Africa and, although more limited in scope, continuing and renewed role in the modern vocabulary of certain East African languages is discussed in Section 3., while the rise and development of Arabic-based pidgins and creoles further is presented in 4. and adds to a characterization of Arabic as an at least partial lingua franca.