Universal Tongue
The Universal Tongue was created by the Deities and the basics were embedded in the minds of every intelligent race starting a few years after the Age of Balance began. In the current age, many different dialects can be found throughout the Realms depending on location, but each dialect is still decipherable by other speakers of this language, creating a near-ubiquitous system of communication.
Writing System
A basic syllabary alphabet exists for the Universal Tongue, though this doesn't mean that spellings for certain words are consistent throughout the Realms.
Vocabulary
At its core, the Universal Tongue as it exists in the minds of the intelligent peoples does not have an incredibly broad vocabulary. Instead, basic words the Deities thought would be useful on a regular basis remain consistent, but more specific words dependent on location (such as words for hot weather or snow) were left to the speakers to create and teach their children.