The document discusses how the Catalan language and culture have utilized the internet to promote their minority language against the forces of globalization. It highlights how the internet provides opportunities for minority languages to develop and promotes Catalan's strong online presence through various initiatives, websites, and mobilization campaigns. Despite obstacles from large companies and the Spanish government, Catalan's online community has grown and led to successes like obtaining the ".cat" domain name, showing how the internet can strengthen local identities.

1. The Fight of a Minority Language Against the Force of Globalisation: The Case of Catalan on the Internet Josep Lluís Micó and Pere Masip Information Society & Multiculturalism Professor Han Woo Park Presented by Azman Bidin 2009.10.29

2. Catalan?

5. 1. Introduction Internet advantage: participation of social agents and people but not the media groups or large economy investments. Tool for democratisation. Inconvenience Not Asset or Variety Broad social basis Media and State support Minority Linguistic communities (often seen as) Strong Cultural or Linguistic communities:

8. 2. Language and Society (Spain) From wikipedia Co-official: Basque 2% Catalan 17% Galician 7% Aragonese Recognised Asturian Unofficial: Others

9. 2. Language and Society “Catalan Lands” Source: Internationalizing Internet Studies 2009 Pg 115 * For comparison purpose, From wikipedia South Korea Seoul 48,379,392 100,032 South Korea* 13,169,786 66,462 Total Andorra Andorra la Vella 52,000 465 Andorra Italy L’Alguer 41,000 224 L’Alguer France Perpinya 364,000 4,116 Northern Catalonia Spain Fraga 42,000 1,812 Franja de Ponent Spain Palma de Mallorca 983,131 4,992 Balearic Islands Spain Valencia 4,692,449 23,255 Community of Valencia Spain Barcelona 6,995,206 31,895 Catalonia Country City People Area (km sq)

16. Alexa Review …

17. 4. Catalan on The Internet Catalan Society Report by Manuel Castells and Imma Tubella Among Internet users with a marked Catalan identity, majority are young people. Those who do not use the Internet are mainly Spanish speakers Highest rate of internet use also highest ratio to website production: Icelandic, Estonian Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and Danish. All with states except Catalan 21.8 20.6 Social Purpose 11.1 11.8 Technological 13.4 14.9 News 27.1 30.3 Leisure 2.6 4.8 Political/Union 17.2 21.3 Education 9.4 12.1 Online Purchase 23 29.6 Practical Use 17.2 21.9 Professional Purpose Does not Share Strong Catalan Identity (33.4%) Share Strong Catalan Identity (38.4% of population) Percentage Use of the Internet