Static Power - The English Language in Computer Programming: A paper reading session at the American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting

Dray Agha, Joe Rowell, Jodie Knapp

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaper

Abstract

We seek to engage and contribute to a discussion that is socio-technical in nature, and bridges disciplines. This discussion aims to bring two things to the fore: First, we problematise English as the global lingua franca for computer sciences and programming language. We contextualise and historicise language for its (neo)imperial qualities in power structures. Language comes with particular values, cultural context, and framing of debates; it creates a mental disposition. Hence if the computer sciences are approached mono-lingually, then the route is closed off for other cultures' potential solutions for current problems; Second, we provide a technical translation tool to enhance the readability behind computer programming for non-native English speakers. This tool is able to map English keywords and function names into a user-specified foreign language equivalent. It is well suited for live demonstration (German, Chinese, and Klingon ready for use in our tool), and offers a somewhat artistic lens to the inner mechanisms of a 'box box' of digital power.

Further application of this tool will see it given over to non-English speaking communities, who can contribute knowledge to a science they would otherwise be shut out from if they did not immersively deploy the English language.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 6 Apr 2019

Cite this