African language use in the digital public sphere: functionality of the localised Google webpage in Zimbabwe
The widely used web search engine in Zimbabwe, Google, offers a localised webpage with an option to change the language from English to African languages for users to find information using their favoured languages. This article interrogates the practicality of the localised Google webpage which is...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Routledge
2022
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.2020.1733833 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4854 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1779905227727568896 |
|---|---|
| author | Mpofu, Phillip Salawu, Abiodun |
| author_facet | Mpofu, Phillip Salawu, Abiodun |
| author_sort | Mpofu, Phillip |
| collection | DSpace |
| description | The widely used web search engine in Zimbabwe, Google, offers a localised webpage with an option to change the language from English to African languages for users to find information using their favoured languages. This article interrogates the practicality of the localised Google webpage which is also available in ChiShona, IsiNdebele, Chichewa and Setswana, over and above English, the main language. The enquiry employs the qualitative research approach, specifically the survey method. Empirical data were collected from conveniently and purposively selected African language academics and students using unstructured questionnaires, personal and group interviews. Elements of linguistic imperialism and electronic colonisation concepts are deployed to explain African language use on the Internet, in the context of English language dominance in Zimbabwe and the global digital divide. While localisation of the Google webpage to some extent demonstrates global multilingual inclusivity, the article shows its redundancy in the context of present language policy and practices that promote English. We maintain that while the discourse of linguistic inclusivity is important and applauded, presently the localised Google webpage is ineffectual due to the entrenched English language hegemony nationally, and on the Internet. This study is a significant addition to the burgeoning body of scholarship on African language use in the digital public sphere. |
| format | Article |
| id | ir-11408-4854 |
| institution | My University |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publisher | Routledge |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ir-11408-48542022-06-27T13:49:06Z African language use in the digital public sphere: functionality of the localised Google webpage in Zimbabwe Mpofu, Phillip Salawu, Abiodun Web search engines Language The widely used web search engine in Zimbabwe, Google, offers a localised webpage with an option to change the language from English to African languages for users to find information using their favoured languages. This article interrogates the practicality of the localised Google webpage which is also available in ChiShona, IsiNdebele, Chichewa and Setswana, over and above English, the main language. The enquiry employs the qualitative research approach, specifically the survey method. Empirical data were collected from conveniently and purposively selected African language academics and students using unstructured questionnaires, personal and group interviews. Elements of linguistic imperialism and electronic colonisation concepts are deployed to explain African language use on the Internet, in the context of English language dominance in Zimbabwe and the global digital divide. While localisation of the Google webpage to some extent demonstrates global multilingual inclusivity, the article shows its redundancy in the context of present language policy and practices that promote English. We maintain that while the discourse of linguistic inclusivity is important and applauded, presently the localised Google webpage is ineffectual due to the entrenched English language hegemony nationally, and on the Internet. This study is a significant addition to the burgeoning body of scholarship on African language use in the digital public sphere. 2022-05-13T09:10:29Z 2022-05-13T09:10:29Z 2020 Article 0257-2117 2305-1159 https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.2020.1733833 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4854 en South African Journal of African Languages;Vol. 40; No. 1: p. 76-84 open Routledge |
| spellingShingle | Web search engines Language Mpofu, Phillip Salawu, Abiodun African language use in the digital public sphere: functionality of the localised Google webpage in Zimbabwe |
| title | African language use in the digital public sphere: functionality of the localised Google webpage in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | African language use in the digital public sphere: functionality of the localised Google webpage in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | African language use in the digital public sphere: functionality of the localised Google webpage in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | African language use in the digital public sphere: functionality of the localised Google webpage in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | African language use in the digital public sphere: functionality of the localised Google webpage in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | african language use in the digital public sphere: functionality of the localised google webpage in zimbabwe |
| topic | Web search engines Language |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1080/02572117.2020.1733833 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4854 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mpofuphillip africanlanguageuseinthedigitalpublicspherefunctionalityofthelocalisedgooglewebpageinzimbabwe AT salawuabiodun africanlanguageuseinthedigitalpublicspherefunctionalityofthelocalisedgooglewebpageinzimbabwe |