English and Internet in the Eyes of Global Society

Eva Nur Mazidah
120710209
Sociolinguistics
Final Examination



In the globalization era, it seems like technology has becomes part of life and one of its kind is internet. Many people use internet from children to adults. Internet indeed gives many impacts to our life. Not only access of information, but also power, ideology, capitalism, and cultures are spread through internet. It becomes a new sort of world for humans in which virtual space has to be seen as an expression of the real, not only its interests (Silverstone, 1999).
This paper would give a description how language is used in the internet, how universal this Global English is how English in internet gives impacts to indigenous communication language, what Global English communication is, what English convention is used in internet, how English broadcasts dominant cultures, and how language diversity means.
Talking about internet, we need to know how it becomes so popular. It is now internet found everywhere. Let’s say internet is like a mushroom in a wet season, as time goes on, as technology grows more sophisticated time after time. All countries in this world have already got the access of internet network.
Internet, of course, is a like two sides of a coin. It brings good and harm at the same times. It gives very good millions access of information; it eases short-long communication, etc. in another side, it also brings caveats. It potentially creates loss e.g. cyber-crime, cyber-war, etc. After all, sometimes we see that the appearance of internet cause problematic issues.
One of problems caused by internet is the language use. We see that language functions as a mean to communicate each other. We also realize that this world becomes closer in term of a fact that we need other people, even from other countries. Therefore, we need a media, not only physical one, but also non-physical one. Internet as physical mean functions to medium and language is the soul of the medium which connects and communicates our aims. The problem is that language itself is not that innocent.
There is a hidden agenda within media and language (Silverstone 1999). It is actually simple but it still does not meet our satisfaction. Let’s say press media, TV, and internet well as, basically move under certain agenda. They try to intervene people’s life. Internet is not that innocent at this prejudice. It gives potentially influences socially, politically, economically, and culturally. Media has a power to run this agenda by using a slithering tool so-called language and the language is English.
An article ‘Why a Global Language? English is a Global Language’ opens up our eyes that in fact “English rules” this world. It has become a lingua franca for people on earth. Therefore its universality is always spread time after time. As a consequence, English is admitted to be the symbol of a globalization, diversification, progress, identity and power. Everywhere we go to countries, we can find English whether it becomes the first, second or foreign language. It implicitly shows its huge “power” over the countries physically and mentally.
As I noticed, many sites use English as language and some combine English and national language (bilingual texts). It happens because they believe that English is needed as a bridge communicating people around the world. Almost 85% of websites in internet are served in English (Kramarae, n.d.). People realize that English is an international language therefore it is hoped that people from other parts of world can exchange information from other sources. As an example, we can see website of universities in Indonesia. Many of them provide bilingual texts so that people from other countries can access the information.
Millions sources use English, indeed. If the question asks whether English can serve adequately as the basic language of internet, the answer is approximately 97% ‘Yes’ it can. I find a bit doubt because though English is a lingua franca, it does not mean that all people use English. We may still find everywhere people who know not about English. They in fact use their national language when they open web-pages. Internet has been provided with national language in their version. But if they want to get more global access, they do need English. When you enter such keywords in English, you will find such different result comparing when you enter the keywords in Indonesia, for instance. Indonesian information is not as abundant as English version. There is unfortunately a potential different and it shows that since the first origin of internet is in English form, the basic language of internet is actually English.
Why websites mostly use English is because they would like to serve majority of people and virtual space has to be seen as an expression of the real world (Silverstone, 1999). In the real world we can find about around 495.8 millions people speaking English (Internet World Stats, 2009). It is evidence that a lot of people use English as their communication language either as L1, L2, foreign language, or favored language. There is an old poet saying that “Japanese lives in Japan; German lives in Germany; Turkish lives in Turkey…. English lives at home.” It indicates that English is recognized by many people in many countries all over the world. We do not need to worry not being able to communicate with people in foreign countries. If you can speak English, you survive. English becomes a bridge to global communication. In virtual world, the same notion happens. Web pages are commonly written in English. It is to ease other people see other parts of the world view. The undercover agenda is that you are part of global community if you can master the global community language—English.
People may wonder when English is used globally, people, whose countries are not English speaking country, are stimulated to study English for example Indonesia. English here is as a foreign language. Nowadays, we find English courses from formal ones to private ones. People are willing to study English. They need that for education, job, etc. while Indonesian is a bit left. There is a language competition here. When it happens, the worst is language extinction. Actually it will not happen if there are number of people speaking the certain language they use (especially local language). It is all in people’s hands whether they still use their local language or not. Therefore some people believe that English jeopardizes indigenous language communication.
Now, let see the context how English can jeopardize indigenous language. Based on the setting, which is in internet, the question is whether or not the development of English on the internet destructively can replace indigenous communication. To my opinion, it will not destructively replace indigenous communication. I can not say certain because internet is not a real world. We have to see also the intensity of people using internet. It is not going to be as harmful as when English is obliged to be L2 or foreign language. Either as L2 or foreign language, English is not going to be success to destroy the indigenous language if people still use their own language. Furthermore, language use in internet is mostly in written. We have to see the potential different between reading comprehension in reading and speaking ability of people who are not from English-speaking countries. They may understand the text but can not speak fluently. Therefore there is no guarantee that it will destructively replace indigenous communication language. A preventing action for it is by still using the indigenous language.
Language is actually the identity of the speaker, for instance Javanese belongs to Javanese, etc. That is still the standard but not as strong as it used to be. In some stances, one person can speak several distinct languages and it is possible to imitate accent. So, it is not going to be the only standard.
In answering the question ‘what is the community of the Global English?’, the answer is the Global English community with various varieties. We can not deny that English does not belong to only United Kingdom, United States, Australia, etc. Further e.g. Singapore, India, Malaysia, etc. also become the member of vast varieties of English. They all speak English but the influences of their own language also exist. It is impossible that they will all follow British English or American English, etc. They will somehow still use their uniqueness in their language as a sign that they also part of other cultures for instance Singapore, we know term ‘Singaporean English’ that has some influence from Chinese.
The phenomenon is similar to Javanese language. People speak Javanese, but they use various varieties in Java. People from certain region potentially use different varieties from others. The influences may come from different local habit, accent, vocabularies, pronunciation, cultures, etc. Still, they still can understand each other language because they stand on the same language. That is why Malang people, Sidoarjo people, Salatiga people, Tulungagung people, Surabaya people, and so on are still called Javanese.
So, English here functions as a system of signs that bind all people in the world together. They all stand under the universal language, English. Therefore they are called as the community of Global English because they communicate with English whatever their varieties are.
Since there are various varieties in English, we can still find some pattern in convention they make. As I notice my self, most of English convention used is American English. We do not need to question it because United States has a huge power in governing media. It is also supported by a fact that in a real world, United Influences also dominates our world for instance lifestyle, movie, state policies, foreign policies, economics, cultures, and so on. United States become the ruler of this world implicitly. Everything in media talks about United States. New invention blows up because of United States. They can govern media and advertise everything. The power over countries that finally make United States become the role model of everything. Since naturally they are dominating, of course their language becomes one of their parts. Language can be politically functioned as Habermas said.
The review above does not mean that American English really dominating so that we could not find the British one, for instance. We still can find whatever the style we want. But after all, American English is dominating. If we talk about article, many of them are in American English. They still follow the academic rules. If you see advertisement in internet, many of them use American style too. It is because United States also dominate global market.
United States, in this case, seems to have splashed their fragrance to all aspects in this world. It is all because of media, as I stated before. It becomes tool to co-orchestrate what happens in this world. They give information like CNN, interpretation, education, entertainment via Hollywood movies, etc. Media, in this case, become a bridge and mirror for us to see the reality out there. If certain party can govern the media, they are the god of this world in hegemonizing people to be in their side. Who is that? United States is in the first rank.
Now let me show you how the media, including internet, can shape the social mindset. Media are now seen as social institution or domains. They deal with content, recipient (process of communications) and how they are communicated each other. We will see that there is media discourse working in that process. It is believed that media are anyway controversial in term of reflecting ‘reality’ or just ‘co-orchestrate’ the reality. To this fact, some argues that somehow media discourse still give a degree of mediation in providing content. Towards the production of messages, they are also controlled by factors through a hierarchy of levels and responsibilities. In the other hand, recipients are dilemmatic with media restriction in access and participation has created much controversy whereas media has designed messages for audience. In conclusion, media can be regarded as a specific communicative structure providing content (public idiom) and media discourse proceeds content into media messages to whom the message is addressed.
The details of media discourse refer to forms, structures, language use and semiotic codes in media, and so on. Media discourse in certain ways needs differentiating from the messages they transfer e.g. programs. Therefore, there are three dimensions of messages and media discourse. First dimension is the production point of view, low level out-put to which recipients are exposed their reaction, for instance an interview with President Nelson Mandela (the interface of two dimensions). Secondly, processing of content occurs at several layers of an institutional hierarchy. Low-level output is the form of the program format e.g. news, spots reports, etc. which can be grouped into categories in terms of orientation. The low-level of messages are shaped in spatiotemporal sequences. Third dimension shows how it is transmitted as media messages. At the end of the day, language which is the central carrier of low-level messages and of messages sequences plays an important role in shaping belief system to come to dominate. The explanation above gives a sight that media are physically informative and mentally affective.
Basically within the language itself, we have already spread so-called culture, a pack of culture. Another view again shows how combination of media and language broadcast cultures. I mentioned about Hollywood movie industries. Almost good films are from there. If we think critically, many values are given and they succeed to make us believe that they are the real example of this world. All movies have a tendency to show that United States is a superpower, a wise state, a winner of everything. They try to influence us and captivate us through their movies. We may not realize that this is the way they echo their agenda. They would like to use English and media to Americanize this world and invite us to their way of life.
We need to make prejudice that it actually threatens other cultures. If previously I said that it is not going to jeopardize the language, it is still justifiable. But in the name of culture that is not in the form of language, I say that it really threatens.
There are several reasons why it is so threatening. Let’s take a look at Indonesian culture. We have high values in family matters, friendship, togetherness, respect, etc, ; we are told to have politeness in clothing, behaving, etc. Now, movies, free access of internet to browse whatever you like, has told us new culture so-called permissive. Media e.g. social networking sites tell you how to be individualist. Freedom of expression becomes a new ideology and faith for other as Americans believe. Clothing, you can wear whatever you like and whatsoever with other people think about you. They would like to close our eyes by making our self busy with our individual matters. These values unfortunately tell us what we should be. We still can prevent endangered indigenous language, but we are highly difficult to remind and prevent others when these values become ideology of people in majority. The way it spreads is easy by inserting values in language in movies broadcasted by media. It is then believed as a dominant culture values.
To the last question whether or not language diversity a communication or a source of enrichment, I will say that language diversity bears both a communication and a source of enrichment. Language diversity emerges because there is different in vocabularies, naming, etc. To refer a thing, sometimes people from different region mention different names. Here is the example of varieties. Still they are different; they become a bridge of communication. They function as a mean to communicate between people. That is also the nature of language as a tool of communication.
Language also becomes a source of enrichment. Here, as I said, vocabularies become the source of enrichment. We can expand our vocabularies building. A simple example is English. English used to have small numbers of vocabularies. It expands because it borrows, lends, combines other language. Many languages in this world have been used by English as vocabularies building. Words like lava (Indonesian), jilbab, pachyderm, etc. English uses for instance, Javanese, Malay, Latin, Arabic, Japanese, etc. English is quit adaptive to changes and therefore Englsih is acceptable to other countries in this world.
In conclusion, towards the resistance and prejudice to English, at least we can still get benefits of this language and this media. To preserve the language, what is needed is the awareness of society. Toward cultural and behavioral changing, we should be able to differentiate what is good and bad by seeing our cultures. After all, we can not ignore the position of English in the globalization. It is the spirit of the new changing. Internet as other media must have benefits and caveats. It is all coming back to us which way we choose. May the indigenous languages become a new inspiration to develop new technologies for the better condition of this world cultures especially in languages.




REFERENCE
Internet Worlds Stats. (2009). Top Ten Language Used in Internet. Retrieved on July 9, 2010 from www.internetworldstats.com/stats7.htm
Kramarae, Cherish. (n.d.). The Language and the Nature of the Internet: the Meaning of Global. London: SAGE Publications.
Silverstone, Roger. (1999). What’s New about Media?. London: SAGE Publications.
Anonym. (n.d.). Why a Global Language? Englsih is a the Global Language.