Title :
The effects of English language dominance of the Internet and the digital divide
Author_Institution :
Bridgewater State Coll., MA, USA
Abstract :
English has become the official language of the Internet by default. Internet technology uses English words. Most of the Websites are available only in English. The English speaking United States dominates in active Internet users, e-commerce, Internet advertising, and B2B industry collaboration. This study examines and measures the effect of English language dominance on the digital divide. In a study of 189 countries, the relationship of English language, Internet usage patterns and infrastructure are examined. The 189 countries are divided into tow groups: developed and developing. The developed group (39 countries) is then divided into two groups (English speaking and not English speaking). The two groups are compared as to the number of Internet service providers per one million population and the percent of the total population that are Internet users. The developing countries are split into two groups. The first group is either English speaking or English is an official language, while the second group is either not English speaking or English is not an official language. The same variables are examined. Secondary data is employed with same instances of lagging data.
Keywords :
Internet; natural languages; social aspects of automation; B2B industry collaboration; English language dominance; English speaking; Internet service providers; Internet technology; Internet usage patterns; Internet users; United States; Web sites; digital divide; e-commerce; Advertising; Collaboration; Educational institutions; Electronic commerce; Government; Industrial relations; Microcomputers; Natural languages; Productivity; Web and internet services;
Conference_Titel :
Technology and Society, 2004. ISTAS '04. International Symposium on
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-8390-7
DOI :
10.1109/ISTAS.2004.1314348