Difference between revisions of "English: The Primary Language"

Revision as of 02:36, 30 May 2007

Original Feature

by Michael Plasmeier

English should be the primary language of the world. That does not mean it has to replace all other languages, but it could be a common second language. English has such a large installed base, most, if not all of the international business deals and technical specifications are conducted in English. Wherever you go, English is the always the second language, if not the first. That is why English is a good choice as a wold language. In addition, a common language would benefit the world by easing the spread of knowledge, reducing cultural barriers, and saving millions in translation costs. Having to reproduce works in other languages is expensive for companies, and impossible for the new generation of self-published web 2.0 content (like this site). Thus English as a common language for the world would benefit everyone by reducing the cost of spreading knowledge.

Connection

The internet is bringing the world together like never before. For hundreds of years, it took weeks to send a physical letter on a ship. Until about 500 years ago, humans didn't even have a complete picture of our globe. About 100 years ago, we got a primitive message/voice transmission system. Even with a telephone gathering information was hard. But now we are able to see a world of information almost instantly over the internet.

A large push is currently going on to give 3rd world children free laptops, so they too can access the information. This is a great way to expand their horizons and teach them whatever they feel like learning.

However there is a problem, content must be in a certain language. Obviously the less speakers of a language, the less content which need to be produced. This makes it hard to access the information if you only know a language with few speakers. Thus you need to know a second language.

Business

In addition, if you ever wanted to conduct a business transaction, you would need to know English. (stat)

• need to communicate
• outsoucring

Computers

In addition, all of the popular computer languages have their base in English. Around the world, every computer has English on it. Basic words like "if" and "then" govern the behavior of every computer. It does not look like this on the surface because the UI is customized with the local language. For example, this website is running on MediaWiki. It is primarily developed in English and all of its developers use English to communicate. However it runs in multiple languages by changing a language "skin". Budding software developers wanting to develop for the internet must learn English first, not only to write code but to communicate with other users.

New Content

The problem only grows larger as new media forms start to emerge. For the past hundred years, consumers could only get content from a limited number of sources determined on their geographic location. For example, television stations could only show a few hundred channels at most. Bookstores only could sell a few thousand books. There were only a few newspapers at a time in a certain city. This content was, in most cases, locally produced by large companies. They only published in the local language because the international audience was not large enough.

Thus, obscure content, like computer training and hobby magazines might only be published in languages with a large enough potential audience. If you do not know a common language, you would not have access to this "fringe" material. Not only that, but your local bookstore would not have this material, because there would not be wide enough of a demand.

The same is now starting as average people are now publishing works. Things like YouTube are primarily for entertainment, and sure some kinds of comedy come through in every language, but these new forms of media are not just for entertainment.

Podcasts are one form of user genorated content. Tecker 911 is one which I produce. We produce (what feel is) helpful material in English. We don't know know any other language; however if you understand English, you can learn stuff from us. We don't have the resources to translate Tecker 911 into any other languages, so if you don't understand English you are out of luck.

However this same problem of duplication comes up. Why duplicate information, either by starting from scratch in a different language, or directly translating? This just seems like expensive (or impossible) work which is just wastefull. In the long run a common language would be benefital.

(long tail)

• web 2.0
• blogs
• podcasts
  • twit in all countries
  • before content (newspapers/tv) produced in all countries

Cost of Translating

• translating is expensive

Culture

• transparenty
• increasing understanding
• no differences

• localization (?rebut)

Why English

• wikipedia 3x bigger

Problems

• dosn't have to be main lang, but easier
• transition over 100s of years