EN
This article examines the concept of English as a lingua franca (ELF) in the context of lingua franca communication in general, with special emphasis on the contemporary Czech context. It begins by elaborating upon the context of World Englishes, on the basis of which ELF has become the subject of scholarly inquiry. Using examples from recent research, it then provides a brief analysis of the issues which arise in connection with the discussion of ELF in the Czech Republic: 1) the sociolinguistic situation of English in the Czech Republic, and 2) the connection between languages in the role of a lingua franca and metalinguistic behaviour, norms and expectations. It concludes by arguing that the phenomenon of lingua franca communication is a more general one, even applicable to languages such as Czech, and that the description of lingua franca interaction and its utilization in language planning (specifically acquisition planning) should be based on the relevant sociolinguistic theory.