Because of technological advances, some say the world is becoming increasingly flat. I would agree also. But one thing is for sure, the world isn’t monolingual. A piece of research carried out by Global Reach found that the English language only accounts for 35.8% of all languages used online. European (non-English) languages were found at 37.9% of the total internet population.
A recent report by eMarketer titled, The Expanding European Web, seems to back up this notion and gives further claims of how the t’internet is becoming increasingly European. It says:
“‘Of the five major Western European nations, the United Kingdom has embraced the Internet most avidly, it was the first of these countries to see more than half its population online” said Karin von Abrams, eMarketer senior analyst and author of the new report Western Europe: Internet Users and Usage. ‘Though the French, Germans and Italians were slower to respond to the Internet opportunity, all three have reached 50% penetration and even Spain is growing now.’”
The report goes on to predict the European internet usage on a year-by-year basis up to 2011 with the UK expected to reach almost 75% penetration by that time. The table below illustrates this:
So, from a PR point of view, as the world becomes increasingly flat but the languages differences continue to grow, will monolingual PR pros have to brush up on their GCSE French and A-level German?
Okay this is a pretty terrible example of how the internet’s changed the way I write and the words I use but yesterday in an email exchange to Youngie I used the words “G’day”, “dude” and “mate” all in a couple of paragraphs. I sometimes say “awesome” these days too. I’ve been saying ‘mate’ all my life but the other three I would have never have said more than two years ago.
Unless I was quoting Bill and Ted or Brad from Neighbours. 
Stephen is a communications consultant based out of the UK. You can connect with him on Twitter or check out his LinkedIn profile. | Email Stephen
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Mookster
Interesting post. Would it be pedantic of me to point out, however, that it’s just ‘t’internet’ not ‘the t’internet’.
Did you know that only 0.000005% of all Internet content is written in true Yorkshire dialect? I’m here to make sure it doesn’t become obsolete in this digital age…
Stephen
Ha! No not pedantic at all. I will amend once I’ve finished writing this.
Interesting fact about the Yorkshire dialect. How are you finding being a Yorkshirian in Newcastle? Were you at the presentation at Newcastle Uni the other day?
Mookster
I certainly was at the presentation, you did a smashing job. It was really refreshing to learn some facts straight from a man in t’know, rather than the usual academic spiel.
It’s tough being a Yorkshireman in these parts, the banter is intense. And then there’s always the greatest insult of them all: Being consistently confused with a Lancastrian! Aargh!!
Been enjoying your blog greatly — keep up the good work.
Stephen
Cheers mate. Glad you enjoyed it.
Aah, very insulting indeed. It’s just like calling a Geordie and Mackem or vice versa. Although the Geordies and Mackems didn’t have anything like the War of the Roses.
My good mate’s a Lancaster lad coincidentally.
Mookster
Aye, they could have done with a good war to get it out of their system! Instead, the non-indigenous folk amongst us still need to lock ourselves indoors on derby day…
Are you a Wearside boy then Stephen, or is that just the home of your alma mater?
No worries, I won’t be waging war on your pal. Not unless the house of Windsor falls, and the Houses of York and Lancaster once again lock horns for the crown…
(Just kidding)
Stephen
I’m neither nowt nor t’other (see that).
I’m a County Durham lad but my football persuasion is Newcastle United.
What about yourself?
Mookster
Impressive, you must have some Yorkshire blood in you somewhere!
My allegiance lies with Leeds — 2008’s undefeated div1 champions…!