By the 16th century, there had developed a standardised form of French (called Middle French) which would be the basis of the standardised "modern" French of the 17th and 18th century which in turn became the lingua franca of the European continent.
16. sajandiks oli siin arendatud prantsuse keele standardkuju (keskprantsuse keel), mis oli aluseks 17. ja 18. sajandi "moodsale" Prantsuse standardkeelele, mis omakorda sai lingua franca'ks Euroopa kontinendil.