{"id":413,"date":"2020-10-16T06:45:27","date_gmt":"2020-10-16T06:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpmu.mau.se\/nmict202group1\/?p=413"},"modified":"2020-11-02T19:32:56","modified_gmt":"2020-11-02T19:32:56","slug":"empowering-indigenous-languages-digital-inclusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpmu.mau.se\/nmict202group1\/2020\/10\/16\/empowering-indigenous-languages-digital-inclusion\/","title":{"rendered":"Indigenous Languages: Part 2 – Digital Inclusion"},"content":{"rendered":"
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‘Language was the most important vehicle through which that power fascinated and held the soul prisoner.<\/em> The bullet was the means of the physical subjugation. Language was the means of the spiritual subjugation.’ Ngugi wa Thiong\u2019o <\/strong>– Decolonising the Mind (9)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is part two of a blog post series focusing on language, how decolonisation is being enacted through focusing on indigenous languages, and the ICT initiatives that are facilitating. The last post<\/span><\/a><\/strong> featured the value of indigenous languages in rural learning, This post will cover the significance of indigenous languages for digital inclusion. Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n

75% of the world\u2019s internet users are from the Global South[i]<\/a>, and yet the internet \u2013 through its language and imagery – is so white and western<\/span><\/a><\/strong>. With an internet penetration of 79%, Europe and North America is reaching saturation[ii]<\/a>. The next one billion internet users will come from the Global South. Western languages take centre stage and indigenous languages are at the back. This is resulting in challenges with inclusivity, leading to a gap between those who can access the internet and those who cannot, i.e. digital divides.<\/p>\n