1. A constructed language:
This refers to a specific artificial language designed for international communication. The most well-known example is Interlingua, created in the 1950s. It's based on Romance languages (like Latin, Spanish, Portuguese, French, etc.) and aims to be easy for speakers of those languages to learn.
2. A general concept:
More broadly, "interlingua" can refer to any language or system of communication that aims to facilitate understanding between speakers of different languages. This could include:
* Pidgin languages: Simplified languages that develop when speakers of different languages need to communicate.
* Creole languages: Pidgin languages that have become the native language of a community.
* International auxiliary languages: Languages like Esperanto, Volapük, or Interlingua itself, created to be neutral and easily learned by speakers of diverse languages.
* Simplified versions of existing languages: Like "Basic English" or "Simplified Chinese."
* Even elements of natural languages used in specialized communication: For example, the technical vocabulary shared by scientists of different nationalities.
So, while the term "Interlingua" itself refers to a specific constructed language, the general concept of an "interlingua" is about finding ways to bridge language barriers and facilitate communication across diverse linguistic communities.