英语依然是互联网的“通用语”吗？

无论在现实还是网络世界，语言都能增进人际关系，并对我们的日常生活产生巨大影响。在全球市场，客户更加信赖使用自己常用语言的网站，并且在这些网站上的消费也更高。 

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. 

客户更加信赖使用自己常用语言的网站，并且在这些网站上的消费也更高。

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. 

如今，要想与海外客户高效沟通，单纯的英文网站已不足以满足需求。自90年代中期以来，互联网和世界已发生了翻天覆地的变化。如要保持竞争力，各公司必须跟上步伐。

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? 

过去十年来，互联网的迅速普及对在线内容产生了巨大影响。The number of Internet users worldwide is around 5 billion, up nearly ~126.24% from the 2.21 billion users reported in 2015. 这一增长在很大程度上来自新兴市场，而英语在这些市场属于第二语言或第三语言（如果当地人说英语的话）。 

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. 中国是一个并非以英语为母语的市场，而印度近90%的居民不说英语。 

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.

[insert YouTube video: https://youtu.be/bVeAN8h40Q4]

How Does Language Impact Business? 

不断发展的语言形势对全球在线业务产生了巨大影响。Common Sense Advisory在2006年开展的一项调查显示，73%的受访者更喜欢在使用自己母语的网站上购物。Eight years later, the group conducted a larger-scale study. 消费者需求增长至75%。 

2014年的研究发现，近60%的受访者“在母语网站上所花的时间多于英语网站，或者根本不会访问英语网页。” 此外，海外消费者表示，如果商品说明信息使用其母语，他们愿意支付更高的价格购买商品。 

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. 

如要在全球范围内保持竞争力，各行各业的公司必须提供使用当地语言、针对当地市场的在线体验，方便当地消费者使用自己常用的设备进行访问。Website translation is becoming a must for businesses who want to grow and remain relevant. 采纳这些全面的最佳方法对于海外业务的成功而言至关重要。