[Air-l] Hungarian and others

[Alex Kuskis]

English-language dominance derives from the fact that all of the
Internet-related technologies originated in English language countries
(I know that the Web was first created at CERN in Geneva, but
it was created by an Englishman). What other language would they
have been created in? Furthermore, English is the lingua franca (as
French and Latin once were) of science, technology, civil aviation,
and world business, among other things. "Power instrument of de-
culturization"? Come now! The U.S. principally has provided the
world with a great technological gift, not without self-interest, to
be sure, but a gift nonetheless. With the technological infrastructure
more or less provided (although admittedly unevenly distributed),
isn't it up to other cultures to put their own face and linguistic stamp
on the Internet? What would motivate mainly English-speaking
countries to put up websites in Hungarian, Urdu, Swahili, or whatever?

The industrial revolution started in England, and the information
technology revolution started in the U.S. (with antecedents in England).
Such social-economic movements must start somewhere, and it
is natural that they use the language of their origins. Would you
rather forego such advances in the interests of local language pride?

In any case, English as a world language might be in decline,
and it might one day become necessary to learn Mandarin, as the
following article suggests...Alex Kuskis (first language, Latvian),
Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario, Canada

English in Decline as a First Language, Study Says
Stefan Lovgren
for National Geographic News
February 26, 2004

It may be time to brush up on your Mandarin.

According to one new study, the percentage of the global population that
grew up speaking English as its first language is declining. In addition, an
increasing number of people now speak more than one language.

In the future, English is likely to be one of those languages, but the
Mandarin form of Chinese will probably be the next must-learn language,
especially in Asia.

The status of English as a global language may peak soon," said David
Graddol, managing director of the English Company in Milton Keynes, England,
and the author of a new study on the future of language.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/02/0226_040226_language.html#main

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Cristian Berrío Zapata" <cristianberrioz at hotmail.com>
To: <air-l at listserv.aoir.org>
Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 9:32 AM
Subject: RE: [Air-l] Hungarian and others


I agree with Jarek although  my two languages (Spanish and English) have
wide spread. The situation of Anglicization of the web had made of it a
power instrument of de-culturization.

Whether you learn English (I do adore Shakespeare language but this has
nothing to do regarding this) or you abandon the web. Same case if we
view all cultural and socioeconomic "intended" messages in the content,
which for obvious is representative of our west-cultural point of view.

Power and the web is a must at any discussion...

Cristian Berrío Zapata
Profesor PUJ - UNAL
Facultad de Economía
Teléfono (57 3)300 817 9849
cberrioz at cable.net.co
CHAT cristianberrioz at hotmail.com


-----Mensaje original-----
De: air-l-aoir.org-bounces at listserv.aoir.org
[mailto:air-l-aoir.org-bounces at listserv.aoir.org] En nombre de J. J.
Enviado el: Martes, 05 de Octubre de 2004 10:31 a.m.
Para: air-l at listserv.aoir.org
Asunto: [Air-l] Hungarian and others

About 10% of the world's population has access to the Internet but 97%
of
web sites are designed in English. If you need reference for these
statistics let me know but unless we recognize the importance and
validity
of other languages in cyberspace, we can find ourselves on the receiving
end
of the global spectrum.

If anything, we should encourage research and scholarly contribution in
other, lesser known (to the English-speaking world) languages.

Jarek

Santiago Canyon College
Orange, California