Newsgroups: sci.lang
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!rochester!udel!gatech!news.mathworks.com!newsfeed.internetmci.com!howland.reston.ans.net!ix.netcom.com!netcom.com!elna
From: elna@netcom.com (Esperanto League N America)
Subject: Re: english on the internet
Message-ID: <elnaDG8ytE.Bx5@netcom.com>
Organization: Esperanto League for North America, Inc.
References: <44se61$ii2@mother.usf.edu> <JKORPELA.95Oct9155724@lk-hp-12.hut.fi>
Date: Tue, 10 Oct 1995 19:15:14 GMT
Lines: 44
Sender: elna@netcom15.netcom.com

jkorpela@snakemail.hut.fi (Jukka Korpela) writes in a recent posting (reference <JKORPELA.95Oct9155724@lk-hp-12.hut.fi>):
>
>Generally speaking, English is the universal language on Internet,

No. It is the *majority* language, but it is not universal. MANY users have
no command of the English language whatsoever, and their numbers are growing
rapidly as connectivity spreads away from the US and North Europe.

>but it has no official status, and it will never have. The reasons for
>the position of English are the imperalism and economical and
>political importance of English-speaking countries. 

I agree. And what will happen to the importance of English as the US
economy continues to sputter?

                                                      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. 
>
I completely agree. And most participants of this forum should also, would 
they but remove their nationalistic blinders.

>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 contructed language, for international
>communication. 
>
Perhaps a rational solution will be pushed from unforeseen quarters, but I
would not bet on its overwhelming the force of nationalism.

>Alternatively, or in addition to this, the technology of machine
>translation may allow people to use their own language in
>international communication. 

Right.... you've been watching too much "Star Trek".

-- 
Miko SLOPER                   elna@netcom.com         USA  (510) 653 0998
Direktoro de la          ftp.netcom.com:/pub/el/elna   fax (510) 653 1468 
Centra Oficejo de la     Learn Esperanto! Free lessons: e-mail/snail-mail
Esperanto-Ligo de N.A.      Write to above address or call 1-800-828 5944
