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Only 4% of languages are used online

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Re: Only 4% of languages are used online

#31

Post by diziet »

minimax wrote: post #19
diziet wrote: post #3

We parsed a lot of the data from App reviews (about 100 million) in different countries. Languages used are predominantly skewered toward english or other european languages. For example, in Israel, 51% of all reviews are in english while only 46% are in Hebrew. Writeup on major countries: http://blog.sensortower.com/blog/2013/11/27/what-apple-app-s...

That's pretty cool analysis. Do you think the high proportion of English relative to other non-native languages could be related to the general affluence of Apple users? It would be interesting to see how these ratios stack up relative to the languages used in reviews on some of the Android app stores in their respective countries. Thanks for sharing.

I suspect the affluence of smartphone users in general is more selected towards those that can speak/write english. Also, most apps are not localized to native languages, and so the people that use apps are exposed to english more often. It's much harder to get reviews on Android, especially for different countries.

Re: Only 4% of languages are used online

#34

Post by M4v3R »

The www.jw.org website (Jehovah's Witnesses website) is translated to 316 languages atm, which is on par with the article's claim (170 actively used + 140 borderline cases). You can disagree with the site's message, but it tries to do a good job into sending the message to people all around the world in different languages. In comparison though, JW publications are printed in 600+ languages, so there's still lot to do for the website.

Edit: Going into "publications" section, there's a picker which lets you select a language from total of 538.

Re: Only 4% of languages are used online

#35

Post by bowlofpetunias »

I hope the research cited is better, because the article makes a complete hash of mixing interface language, script and language actually used to communicate. All of these are thrown together as "use of language on digital stuff".

It's quite common around the world to use an interface in language X (because the options are limited) but communicate in their own language. (I personally do it all the time, so much so that I prefer an English interface over one in my own language for the sake of consistency.)

Lack of support for certain kinds of script may be an issue, but that never becomes clear from the article. If the data is heavily based on the formal support for languages (instead of actual usage) then it's seriously skewed. And even if it isn't, the article doesn't tell us where the actual problem is.

Re: Only 4% of languages are used online

#36

Post by wobbleblob »

adamnemecek wrote: post #4

I can't decide whether this is a good thing or a bad thing.

As a native speaker of a geographically confined language, I've come to the conclusion that a small language can be a prison. Here, in the small corner of the world where I just happened to be born, I understand everything. Every nuance, every idiom, even speech with a heavy regional accent.

As soon as I move 100 miles in any direction, this clarity disappears. Despite my decent grasp of English, I miss things. It is like my verbal IQ is lower, and I have become hard of hearing. I don't understand slang, and regional accents are difficult to make out. Every mispronunciation or malapropism is a risk of ridicule or misunderstanding.

Linguistic diversity may seem nice in theory, but not for the sake of performing a of quaint tribal dance for tourist dollars. It is simply undeniably more useful to be a native speaker of a major language. I'm trying to raise my kids as native speakers of English, to prevent them from being trapped the way their old man was. As far as I'm concerned, minority languages are better off going the way of Latin or Etruscan.

Re: Only 4% of languages are used online

#38

Post by pjmlp »

nitrogen wrote: post #22
CaveTech wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're promoting both the killing and preserving of languages in the same paragraph, seems a bit misguided. Surely if they're worth documenting, then its worth trying to preserve their use as well. Surely the world should be moving to a place where it doesn't matter what language the source is, at least online. A fully competent Google translate would seamlessly allow everyone to communicate without destroying cultur…

Why promote the use of obsolete technology (including language), when it can be satisfactorily preserved in museums?

If it doesn't happen the same as it happen to Alexandria's Library, that is.

Re: Only 4% of languages are used online

#40

Post by coldtea »

nitrogen wrote: post #22
CaveTech wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're promoting both the killing and preserving of languages in the same paragraph, seems a bit misguided. Surely if they're worth documenting, then its worth trying to preserve their use as well. Surely the world should be moving to a place where it doesn't matter what language the source is, at least online. A fully competent Google translate would seamlessly allow everyone to communicate without destroying cultur…

Why promote the use of obsolete technology (including language), when it can be satisfactorily preserved in museums?

Because "satisfactorily preserved" and "museum" are contradictory for a language.

A spoken language is a living thing -- and it carries with it the patina of all those that have used it, their stories and how they shaped the language in return etc.

Relegating to some museum excibits (that noone will care about, let's be honest) is like being satisfied by a polaroid of your significant other, instead of him/her.

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