Dharma Gohel presented a paper on the topic of Lingua Franca. The term originally referred to a language created in the Middle Ages that combined French and Italian and was used by Crusaders and traders in the Mediterranean region to communicate. A Lingua Franca now means a common language used for communication regardless of one's native tongue. English currently serves as a modern Lingua Franca, playing an important role in global communication and serving as the official language for international air traffic control.