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well as humans. Furthermore, the participation model plays as an open service
platform which enables easy creation and launch of another new applications
and services. Based on an open dictionary service, for instance, a phrase
translation service or another dictionary with more specific interests can be
built by others than original authors. In summary, such a participation model
is expected to provide a ground to wider sharing and use their linguistic skills
of the small ethnic groups, and further efficiently build up new challenging
works as well as glue to naturally linked individual’s thoughts.
2. Barriers to Minor Languages in Cyberspace
As we know, earlier web services had focused on how to publish and share
their information which is mostly static and unchanged over time. But, since
the advent of web 2.0, it has become a true communication space far beyond
information sharing. Such new web features support collective collaboration,
active social networking, and component integration. Collective collaboration
is achieved by participatory creation and sharing.
Active social networking enables users to dynamically interact to each other,
based on personal profiles, their social links, and additional services. All the
social media including blogs, twitters are enabled by this feature. Component
integration combines data, presentation, and functionalities from multiple
sources to create a new service or application. For example, Google opens
their own map service as public APIs which other developers can freely use.
In such circumstances, we are facing two barriers in supporting minority
languages in cyberspace. First, sometimes their computing environments
would be less developed. For instance, we need operating system supports
with character codes, fonts, and input methods. It is also true for language
supports in some major applications or services from Microsoft and Google.
Also, the gap in leading technologies is getting larger.
Secondly, the most important problem I think is the less participation in
using a minority language in cyberspace. Especially, the cyberspace is not
familiar with agro-typed rural residents and senior citizens who have much
experience in their languages. In addition, younger generation prefers using
official languages which are strongly recommended and advantageous in
their community.
Of the barriers just mentioned, the eager participation into the cyber
community is the biggest challenge we have to address. In essence, it is not a
problem linked to technology only, rather it is strongly related to social and
cultural surroundings.
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