Language, Power, and Dominance in the Online Writing


By


Obododimma Oh


***


Language has always been deployed as a weapon to hold less-privileged groups down in life and so one is not surprised with the feeling that language is used in that way in online writing. It all means that writing is not only used in enacting power but this is intensified when there is an additional technology."

This is surprising because there is an assumption that being online is to be free from oppression and many kinds of control. We still have human beings online and we have language.

Writing as an Enactment of Power:

The ability to write, backed by skills and whether on slate or on paper, is itself a form of technology w that humanity has been very proud of. With Mrw technology this technology has changed and there is  a greater need for skills. So, with writing, dominance or having an advantage over other, is intensified.

Ways that linguistic dominance can be created online:

(1) Language given to the technological device initially.

(2) Use of technical language online to deal with non-knowers.

(3) Following other users in using other languages and thereby promoting linguistic imperialism.

The Language of the owner/Controller of the Technology:

The language used by the owner and controller of online technology is powerful and is a ruler of every user. There has been a bitter argument and debate about forcing users to use the language of the owner of the technology, that this is unfair. Do, now makers of computers, such as HP, have added other languages for initial configuration. One can also produce texts in other languages using appropriate Apps.

In online interaction, such as the one on Facebook, there are also writings through which people try to use language to enact power. The common people who don't have connectivity or use smart phones cannot exercise this power, like calling rulers to order.

So , first of all, the owners of the technology give it and make it speak a language. That only means exercising technological power. Then, the structure of authority in a given user country exercisesr political power, making it possible for some to possess smartphones and to have connectivity. But we also have debate power involving language,r which occurs in online sharing and reactions.

Why language and dominance in online interaction matters to English studies:

-- English is accused of domination in online interaction.

-- If one is studying a language, one should be interested in what affects it and how it is growing or otherwise.

-- English occupies a prominent place in the wWorld today.

-- Examining language and dominance shows a critical posture.

Some ways of undermining linguistic dominance in online interaction:

(1) Creating groups dedicated to the use of small- population languages that are dying. 

(2) Injecting words and expressions in our English updates from other languages, with their meanings provided

(3) Bringing up issues about linguistic dominance and thoroughly and logically debating them in our online interaction.

Concluding Remarks: 

English is dominant online and is given a privileged position by computer technology. This seems good for English studies. But it is not really. We need to develop and promote the small-population languages.

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