koiné

Noun

koine (plural koines or koinai)

1. A linguistic variety that has developed in supraregional contact between speakers of various interrelated dialects, typically in such a way that features shared by several dialects prevail and those of limited distribution are avoided.
   • If a dominant language was spoken in the area of such trade routes, then this dominant language became the ‘interlanguage’, as it is called. Such an interlanguage, or koiné, is a simplified dialect with which speakers of two or more quite different dialects communicate with one another.2004, Steven Roger Fischer, A History of Language, Reaktion Books, page 178
2. A lingua franca.
   • Darī (q.v.) is a term long recommended by Afghan authorities to designate Afghan Persian in contrast to Iranian Persian; a written language common to all educated Afghanis, Darī must not be confused with Kābolī, the dialect of Kabul and surrounding areas that is more or less understood by eighty...2018 June 1, Charles M. Kieffer, “AFGHANISTAN v. Languages”, in Encyclopædia Iranica, pages 501-516

   Synonyms:

   interlanguage

See all 3 meanings of koine