The language at the center of technology
Since the Internet was designed in 1974, the world has recorded time in terms of the next big advancement or upgrade. Hardware has developed exponentially while software has skyrocketed. Futuristic gadgets such as self driving cars and Google glasses have consistently proven that movies aren’t too far from the truth!
But there’s a surprising statistic at the heart of it all. The UK has a better GDP than India although it is only as populated as Uttar Pradesh.
The root cause
The potential of every nation is driven by the quality of workers and their technological achievements. When you consider the founder of the Web, Sir Tim Berners Lee, or the handful of Silicon Valley techies who became overnight billionaires, it’s hard to understand why other countries haven’t experienced this phenomenon.
The invisible barrier
While India has seen considerable success in the IT sector, fast outgrowing Silicon Valley in terms of sheer number, little can be said for Eastern Europe which remains out of sync with the rest of the tech world.
Probing further into this issue, we can safely determine that the English language is fueling this divide. Contributing to at least 50% of all the information available on the world wide Web, the language has long tried to penetrate every corner of the globe.
One of two conditions that hamper growth in countries is the high number of regional languages and dialects. Building apps and adapting them to the vernacular is simply too resource intensive. On the other hand, some nations such as those in central Europe and China, have apps built exclusively in the national language. Thus, these don’t progress beyond borders.
Contextual developments
Tech industry verticals such as BPO and software development projects for computers and mobile apps flourish where there is greater competency in the English language. Ambitious citizens in Eastern Europe are pushing their limits by to catch up with the quick paced, English powered internet economy by taking up language classes alongside technical courses.
While coding might be the key to unlocking the infinite possibilities of the Web, English could still stand in the way of the next Mark Zuckerburg.
