English - the universal language on the Internet？ 英语论文.docVIP

English - the universal language on the Internet? Abstract Generally speaking, English is the universal language on the Internet, but it has no official status, and it will never have. The reasons for the position of English are the imperialism and economical and political importance of English-speaking countries. Linguistically, English is extremely unsuitable for international communication, and the actual wide use of English tends to polarize the world into Internet users and Internet illiterates. The position of English can only be altered by major world-scale political and economical changes, such as increasing importance of the European Union or a coalition between Japan and China. Such powers might wish and be able to promote a language other than English, possibly a constructed language, for international communication. Alternatively, or in addition to this, the technology of machine translation may allow people to use their own language in international communication. Table of Contents Preface The current situation Why is it so? Effects of the importance of the Internet and English An official language for the Internet? But can things change? Is English a suitable universal language? A constructed international language? An alternative: machine translation Final remarks Preface The impulse to writing this article was a discussion in the newsgroup sci.lang. The original question was whether or not English should be made the universal language of the internet. As several people remarked, English essentially is the universal language of the Internet. Nevertheless, the question, appropriately interpreted and elaborated, is worth a more delicate treatment. I had previously discussed related themes in my article Internet muuttaa maailman 2 (The Internet changes the world?2, in Finnish). Here I present some of those ideas in English and develop them a bit further. The current situation In general, the universal language on the Internet is English, o