Communication in the Early Modern Indian Ocean World

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Michael Pearson

Abstract

People living on the shores of the early modern Indian Ocean spoke many languages. To communicate, whether for trade or other reasons, several strategies were found. I have already sketched the role of cultural brokers. The present study looks at silent trade, and the possibly existence of linguas franca, second languages widely spoken in the area. The two most commonly found were Portuguese and Arabic.

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Author Biography

Michael Pearson, University of New South Wales

Associate Professor, Humanities and social sciences at UTS

References

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