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21 - Language Policy and the Arabic Localization of Twitter

from Part V - Arabic Linguistics and New Media Studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 September 2021

By
Amy Johnson
Edited by
Karin Ryding  and
David Wilmsen
Karin Ryding
Affiliation:
Georgetown University, Washington DC
David Wilmsen
Affiliation:
American University of Beirut
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Summary

This chapter takes us into the realm of social media platforms and the key role of Arabic linguistics in social media adaptation to the communicative needs of the Arab world. Through the localizing of social media platforms and the development and implementation of language policy, Johnson examines ‘the process of translating and adapting software to a new language and cultural context’. Issues such as collaborative translation and crowdsourcing have been instrumental in transforming social media discussion in Arabic formats. Providing a rundown of key issues in the adaptation of social media technology to different language areas, Johnson contextualizes the emergence of language policy and practice relating to translation and localization of social media texts, and discusses issues of translation and transliteration that apply both generally and specifically to the Arab world.

Keywords

social media platformslocalizationTwitterlanguage policytranslation (in social media)crowdsourcingfansubbingscanlation
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Handbook of Arabic Linguistics , pp. 507 - 531
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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