the base/basic/common language

[diamondcutter]

English has become the base language for international business, for the world’s airlines and even for the Internet. Whatever language people speak, they need to know some English if they work in these fields.

Source: An English textbook for junior high school students in China, by Popular Science Press

The phrase “the base language” here sounds odd to me. What about using “the basic language” or “the common language” to replace it?

 

[Barque]

I suggest: English has become the language of international business. No adjective's really needed.

I've also heard it described as the "default language of international business" but for some reason I don't really like that term.

 

[emsr2d2]

They could have used the term "lingua franca".

 

[diamondcutter]

Is it necessary for me to tell my students the following words?
We can understand what the writer means by using “the base language”, but it is not a proper term here and it’s not good for us to imitate that usage.

 

[Tarheel]

Say:

Is it necessary for me to tell my students the following?

Or:

Is it necessary for me to say the following to my students?
.
I like lingua franca. Great suggestion!

 

[emsr2d2]

Is it necessary for me to tell my students the following? words?

We can understand what the writer means by using “the base language”, but it is not a proper standard term here and it’s not good for us to imitate that usage I don't recommend that you use it.

 

[Tdol]

You could just say that base is unnecessary- if you are too critical of the book, it might have a negative effect on your students faith in the learning process.