L'anglais est-il encore la langue véhiculaire d'Internet ?

La langue renforce les échanges humains et forge notre quotidien de manière conséquente, aussi bien dans le monde réel que sur Internet. Sur le marché mondial, les clients font beaucoup plus confiance et passent plus de temps sur des sites qui « parlent leur langue », au sens littéral du terme. 

Yet many major companies are just now beginning to appreciate the vital role language and website translation play for online global customers. Not only does it govern our online conversations and behavior, but it also limits what information we access. 

Les clients font beaucoup plus confiance et passent plus de temps sur des sites qui « parlent leur langue », au sens littéral du terme.

Twenty years ago, researchers determined that about 80% of the Internet’s content was published in English—not surprising, given that the Internet was initially developed in the U.S. and UK, and was rapidly adopted in those countries. 

Désormais, si elles souhaitent avoir accès à une clientèle internationale, les entreprises ne peuvent plus se contenter de sites Web uniquement en anglais. Internet et le monde ont radicalement changé depuis le milieu des années 90. Pour rester compétitives, les entreprises doivent suivre cette évolution.

The Evolution of Internet Communication  

January 1, 1983 is considered the official birthday of the internet. Since then, a lot has changed. The Internet's expansion into a global communication landscape was expeditious. In 1993, after 10 years of existence, it only communicated 1% of the information flowing through two-way telecommunications networks. That shot up to 51% by 2000, and more than 97% by 2007. 

Here are some of the ways the internet was able to expand into a global communication tool: 

• Increased availability: As internet infrastructure has improved around the world, more people have gained access to the internet. This has led to an increase in the number of internet users globally. 
• Growth of social media: Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and LinkedIn have become increasingly popular globally, providing people with new ways to connect and share information. 
• Localization of content: The internet has become more global as websites and services have made efforts to localize content for different regions and languages. Website translation and localization have made it easier for people around the world to access information and communicate online. 

• Expansion of e-commerce: The growth of e-commerce has made it easier for people to buy and sell goods and services across borders. This has created new opportunities for businesses and consumers around the world. 

Though everyone around the world started to use the internet to interact, buy and sell goods, and develop professionally, the issue of language and communication barriers became evident. But if the whole internet were to choose one language, what would it be? 

What Does “Lingua Franca” Mean? 

By definition, a lingua franca is a language used to communicate between groups of people who all speak different languages. It is considered the most efficient way to get information across to multilingual audiences. In the case of the internet, it would be the "most common" language utilized by web creators and businesses. 

Has the Language of the Internet Changed? 

Le spectaculaire développement de l'accès à Internet au cours de la dernière décennie a grandement influencé le contenu en ligne. The number of Internet users worldwide is around 5 billion, up nearly ~126.24% from the 2.21 billion users reported in 2015. L'essentiel de cette progression concerne les marchés émergents, où l'anglais est souvent la deuxième ou la troisième langue (lorsqu'elle est usitée). 

Between the mid-90s and mid-2000s, English-language content dropped from 80% to about 45% of total online content, with some experts placing it at less than 40%. This trend was fueled by the global adoption of mobile and smartphone technology, and the emergence of social media. Chinese became the second-most common language used online, increasing by a staggering 2,227% since 2000.  

Currently, English still holds the first place slot with 58.8% of Internet use. Russian is in second at 5.3%. Spanish represents a close third, with French trailing right behind in fourth. 

China and India currently lead the world in Internet and social media usage. By 2023, nearly half of China's population will be using social networks. La Chine parle peu l'anglais et en Inde, près de 90 % des habitants ne parlent pas anglais. 

Studies suggest that about half of all Twitter posts are written in languages other than English—with Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese and Indonesian consumers being most active.

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How Does Language Impact Business? 

Ce paysage linguistique toujours changeant a un impact important sur l'activité mondiale en ligne. Selon une étude de 2006 réalisée par Common Sense Advisory, 73 % des personnes interrogées étaient davantage susceptibles d'acheter sur un site rédigé dans leur langue maternelle. Eight years later, the group conducted a larger-scale study. La demande des consommateurs a augmenté à hauteur de 75 %. 

L'étude de 2014 indiquait que près de 60 % des personnes interrogées, soit « passaient plus de temps sur des sites dans leur langue maternelle (par rapport à des sites en anglais), soit boycottaient simplement les URL en anglais. » De plus, les clients internationaux exprimaient une volonté de payer plus cher des articles si les informations descriptives étaient dans leur langue maternelle. 

By translating and localizing your business’ website to accommodate certain markets, you open yourself up to some great benefits: 

• Reach a larger audience: By translating their websites into multiple languages, companies can reach a larger audience around the world. This can help them tap into new markets and increase their customer base. 
• Improve customer experience: Nearly 20% of respondents in a European survey said they never visit websites that aren't available in their language. Translating a website can help provide a better customer experience, which can lead to increased sales and customer loyalty. 
• Enhance brand perception: A company that takes the time to translate its website into multiple languages shows that it values its customers and is committed to serving a global audience. This can enhance the company's brand perception and reputation. 
• Gain a competitive advantage: E-commerce companies that translate their websites can gain a competitive advantage over those that don't. By offering a more inclusive and accessible shopping experience, they can attract customers who may not be able to shop on other sites. 

• Increase revenue: Over 40% of those surveyed in a European study said they never purchase products and services in other languages. Website translation can help minimize bounce rates, improve customer experience, and gain a competitive advantage in the global marketplace. 

So, is English the Universal Language? 

The takeaway is clear: English hasn’t been the lingua franca of the Internet for many years—and as Internet adoption continues to grow worldwide, content in languages other than English will become increasingly vital for business. 

Pour rester compétitives à l'échelon mondial, les entreprises dans tous les secteurs doivent proposer des expériences en ligne qui soient localisées, traduites et accessibles pour les clients locaux sur le dispositif de leur choix. Website translation is becoming a must for businesses who want to grow and remain relevant. Prendre en compte ces meilleures pratiques est essentiel pour réussir au niveau international.