Net.Lang

NET.LANG Towards the multilingual cyberspace is an educational, political and practical guide to policy and practice to understand key issues of multilingualism in cyberspace. Multilingualism is the new frontier of the digital network. This book presents the issues, and provides suggestions for a cyber-presence that is equitable among languages in the information society.

This book is addressed to everyone involved in the political, economic, cultural or social life of their community : confronted by the growth of cyberspace and questioning the scope of linguistic diversity in the digital environment. Promoting one's language, or language policy, teaching or working in a language, translating or interpreting languages, creating content in multiple languages, contacting people from other languages... are all situations where this book offers guidance. The vitality of multilingualism is a force both for the development of the internet for building inclusive societies, sharing knowledge and working with the objective of living well together.

Maaya / the World Network for Linguistic Diversity is a multilateral network created to contribute to the development and promotion of linguistic diversity worldwide. In terms of the Bambara language, Maaya could mean the neologism « humanitude ». The Maaya Network was established following the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), in which the cultural and linguistic diversity in cyberspace was identified as a priority. Maaya was founded by the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN), under the auspices of the African Union. http://www.maayajo.org/

This book is a production of the Maaya Network, with support from Unesco, Communication and Information Sector, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, Union Latine, ANLoc, and IDRC/CRDI.