Communication in the Early Modern Indian Ocean World

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Indian seafarers and other activists, 1945, reenact their small boat pursuit of Dutch ship to call on crews to mutiny. Scene from Indonesia Calling, courtesy Heritage Films.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5130/tfc.v4i2.1377
Keywords:
Indian Ocean, lingua franca, silent trade

Main Article Content

Michael Pearson
University of New South Wales

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.

Article Details

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2009): Ocean of Stories: Communication & Contested Identities across the Indian Ocean

Section

Articles
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