A working language (also procedural language) is a language that is given a unique legal status in a supra-national company, society, state or other body or organization as its primal mean of communication. It is primarily the language of the daily correspondence and conversation, since the organization usually has members with various differing language backgrounds.

Most international organizations have working languages for their bodies. By definition a working language is not the same as an official language.

Examples

• The United Nations has six working languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
• The European Union has three working languages: English, German and French.
• NATO has two working languages: French and English.
• FIFA has three working languages: French, German and English.
• East Timor has two working languages: Indonesian and English.
• Eritrea has three working languages: Tigrinya, Arabic and English.

Language varieties and styles | Sociolinguistics

Arbeitssprache | Werktaal | Радни језик