Around the Renaissance era a mixed language of Italian ( 80 % ) and many words from Turkish , French , Spanish , Greek and Arabic was used in the eastern region around the Mediterranean Sea It was in use as the language of commerce and diplomacy and was called lingua franca . The original Lingua Franca was a mixed language composed mostly ( 80 % ) of Italian with a broad vocabulary drawn from Turkish , French , Spanish , Greek and Arabic . It was in use throughout the eastern Mediterranean as the language of commerce and diplomacy in and around the Renaissance era .