Do Internet Users Want More Languages?
Techtree News Staff, Dec 05, 2008 2006 hrs IST
Internet Governance Forum poser
Which is the one language that the people of India aspire to learn? Which is the one language that most Indians use while communicating on the Internet?
The answer is English. But you obviously knew that.
At the Internet Governance Forum being held in Hyderabad, Ajit Balakrishnan, CEO of Rediff.com, said that there is no evidence from the last ten years of the Internet business that users want Indian languages. Rediff has email in 11 languages, and 99% of the users prefer to use email in English, says a report.
Balakrishnan believes that a majority of Indians use the Internet for non- or little language skill associated activities like sending send messages, download music, view pictures or videos. These activities hardly require text input/usage.
Interesting comment from the Rediff CEO so is he trying to say that the investment he made to make those 11 languages available for its users was futile?
Not really; in fact, it could be called future-ready. In the coming years when Internet penetrates into large sections of rural India, that's when the regional languages will come handy, perhaps?
Related Links:
Rediff Expanding Features
Rediff Offers Music Downloads
Rediff iLand Goes Regional
USER COMMENTS
Mr Ajit is incorrect, they havent been able to provide the true language interface or content or technology. Look at Google, Webdunia, Guruji they all have better (all three) than rediff. I myself have used rediff blog, webdunia blog and find that rediff blog doesnt work properly in language, while webdunia blog does. So, obviously people are not using language on rediff. I think languages is the way to go in India...
by Raja Billore, Noida, on Dec 07, 2008 06:43 PM, Report abuse Reply
समस्या क्या है? हिन्दी का उपयोग करने के लिए उत्कृष्ट है.
by Matsya, Stockholm, on Dec 07, 2008 08:15 AM, Report abuse Reply
the internet users use their own mother tongue but adopt roman alphabet. so the users can write their content in English language email facility for communicating even in hindi, bengali etc. by adopting roman script. i have seen many questions and answers in hindi language using roman script in rediff qna. .
by gulshan kumar a, Agra, on Dec 06, 2008 09:04 PM, Report abuse Reply
Guess you should also ask Google, yahoo and other mail providers where indian languages are more easy to use..
by Poorna, San Jose, on Dec 06, 2008 07:49 PM, Report abuse Reply
For the not-so-computer savvy people accessing the internet, greatest hurdle in the way of using the Indian languages , is the absence of standardisation of language key-boards, Even the phonetic key-boards available vrom various sources are not uniform. Similarly even if one types a matter in in vernacular language and sends it to somebody else, he may not be able to read or print the same if the recepient has not the requisite fonts loaded on his/her computer. Unless industry/developers/Govt. of India/Various state Govts come together and endorse a most suitable phonetic key-board ,declare it as the Indian standard and give publicity to standardised keyboard ,the use of Indian languages in internet communication will not flourish.
by Suhas Joshi, Singapore, on Dec 06, 2008 04:00 PM, Report abuse Reply
knowledge is independent of language. It is a myth that knowledge acquisition requires English. Internet as a tool that aids knowledge acquisition ... this really needs any and every language ... leaving alone a few exceptional cases, in most of the cases mother tongue is the best language to imbibe understanding ...
by Aam Aadhmi, www, on Dec 06, 2008 12:12 PM, Report abuse Reply
Internet is global ..it needs English strictly...but for convinience of Indians... it can be in Tamil and Hindi initially..which are the Major Indian Languages and later other Indian Languages like Telugu,Malayalam,Kannada etc ..can also be a part of Internet..which gives more convinience to our neighbours in others Languages within India ...
by Arun Jayaraman, Chennai, on Dec 06, 2008 11:10 AM, Report abuse Reply
I totally disagree with Rediff.com CEO. Indian user definately love to have websites in their regional language. I feel on internet they should teach people how to type their regional language and also their should be browsers and softwares which supports Indian Languages. Today there are some free software developed by c-dac like "GIST Typing Tool" but quality of this software is so pure that it never works in "Internet Explorer 7" Even after complaining it to c-dac concerned department there is still no improvement in that. I see all these factors a very big reason why people communicate in English and not in their own regional language.
by Nilesh, Mumbai, on Dec 06, 2008 10:49 AM, Report abuse Reply
The problem is the friendliness of the keyboard. Just because I type my language in English (Romanized) does not mean I do not use the local tongue. As said it is the ease of use that would power usage in the local languages. Check out the forums and other places, lot of the content may be typed in latin script but is a local language. I have seen content in Hindi, Telegu , Tamil and many other Indian languages typed using a english keyboard
by Sri Kri, Chennai, on Dec 06, 2008 09:12 AM, Report abuse Reply
It may not be totally correct. As more internet users are proficent in typing English than regional langauges. If that becomes easy, I feel there would be a sea change in usage.
by Raja G, Hyderabad, on Dec 05, 2008 11:34 PM, Report abuse Reply
Do Internet Users Want More Languages?
by info, hyd, on Dec 06, 2008 08:15 AM, Report abuse
Ajit Balakrishnan is wrong. rediff's Indian language email is not so user friendly. Google's Indic transliteration is so cool. Even though users don't type much using Indian languages they read Indian language content. I read tamil content and I have seen many of my friend's read telugu content. I don't know if there is good content in Hindi.
by Shaan, Chennai, on Dec 05, 2008 10:39 PM, Report abuse Reply
Internet will penetrate in rural places and this will also result in an appetite for more skills, which will require English. Not so fast in your judgment, my friend.
by Ravichandran.S, Chennai, on Dec 05, 2008 09:16 PM, Report abuse Reply
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i want to instal punjabi language in my sony ericssion
by daya, Batala, on Dec 12, 2008 04:00 AM, Report abuse Reply