| Read
the following passages and note two different referencing styles. Passage A uses the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers) style of referencing; passage B, the APA (American Psychological Association) style. |
| Referencing |
| Passage A Networking the World |
Passage B Networking the World |
| The global potential of the Internet took a further step towards realization recently when the European Union (EU) agreed officially that market forces should be allowed to determine the development of the universal information superhighway [1]. In other words, there is to be no Government regulation, in Europe anyway, of access to the net -- including its latest and ever-expanding addition, the World Wide Web (WWW). Governments, it seems, are reluctant either to define or to limit what the Internet is to be used for. | The global potential of the Internet took a further step towards realization recently when the European Union (EU) agreed officially that market forces should be allowed to determine the development of the universal information superhighway (European Commission 2000). In other words, there is to be no Government regulation, in Europe anyway, of access to the net -- including its latest and ever-expanding addition, the World Wide Web (WWW). Governments, it seems, are reluctant either to define or to limit what the Internet is to be used for. |
| Clearly, this easy acceptance of an unregulated net and the uncritical way in which the new technology generally is welcomed in the so-called advanced societies, makes it necessary to voice fears about the potentially negative effects of networking the world [2]. We all know that the West leads the world in information technology [3], but it is now likely that the net will spread Western cultural values even more widely than satellite television has already done. In short, the net could prove to be another killer of culture. | Clearly, this easy acceptance of an unregulated net and the uncritical way in which the new technology generally is welcomed in the so-called advanced societies, makes it necessary to voice fears about the potentially negative effects of networking the world (Silken et al 1995). We all know that the West leads the world in information technology (Silken et al 1995) but it is now likely that the net will spread Western cultural values even more widely than satellite television has already done. In short, the net could prove to be another killer of culture. |
| More than 80% of communications on the Internet are carried out in English [4]. Some proponents of the Internet claim that communicating on the net provides an opportunity to improve the universal standard of English in an enjoyable way [5]. This is an overly optimistic view, which ignores the fact that language is not neutral. A language and the images that accompany it convey the cultural values of the societies that use it as a mother tongue [6]. Few people would disagree, for example, that Asian and Western cultural values are very different, but as the world becomes increasingly 'wired', it is Asian culture that will be under threat. The unspoken rule is that Western values are best and that this is proven by the West's economic prosperity. The message is clear -- if you want to progress, adopt Western values. | More than 80% of communications on the Internet are carried out in English (European Commission 2000). Some proponents of the Internet claim that communicating on the net provides an opportunity to improve the universal standard of English in an enjoyable way (Fields 1999). This is an overly optimistic view, which ignores the fact that language is not neutral. A language and the images that accompany it convey the cultural values of the societies that use it as a mother tongue (Hanks 1992). Few people would disagree, for example, that Asian and Western cultural values are very different, but as the world becomes increasingly 'wired', it is Asian culture that will be under threat. The unspoken rule is that Western values are best and that this is proven by the West's economic prosperity. The message is clear -- if you want to progress, adopt Western values. |
| Western satellite TV already presents stereotypical images that are based on underlying Western cultural values; particular examples are the ideal individual and the model family [7]. The ideal individual, whether male or female, is tall and slim with perfect hair and teeth and regular features. Bodies are young and athletic; there is no place for age in this culture. One sad result of this is that in a number of Asian countries, women can buy devices to make a flat nose more prominent. Skin-whitening cosmetics are selling fast too. | Western satellite TV already presents stereotypical images that are based on underlying Western cultural values; particular examples are the ideal individual and the model family (Barnes 1994). The ideal individual, whether male or female, is tall and slim with perfect hair and teeth and regular features. Bodies are young and athletic; there is no place for age in this culture. One sad result of this is that in a number of Asian countries, women can buy devices to make a flat nose more prominent. Skin-whitening cosmetics are selling fast too. |
| As regards the family, the nuclear structure is presented in a very positive light -- the mother, father and two children, living in a huge and under-used house with two or three cars. The extended family does not exist and the only time we see older people is when they come to visit the main family unit: they are seen simply as guests of the family unit they are visiting [8]. In sharp contrast to this, most Asian cultures integrate older family members into the home and assign them important roles in raising the children and running the household. | As regards the family, the nuclear structure is presented in a very positive light -- the mother, father and two children, living in a huge and under-used house with two or three cars. The extended family does not exist and the only time we see older people is when they come to visit the main family unit: they are seen simply as guests of the family unit they are visiting (Barnes 1994). In sharp contrast to this, most Asian cultures integrate older family members into the home and assign them important roles in raising the children and running the household. |
| In as much therefore as the dominant images of the world are western and the universal language is English, it follows that the only way to limit the resulting cultural imperialism is for governments to pass laws to regulate what appears on TV and computer networks. In doing this they will be protecting their own cultures. A group of leading Internet activists recently proposed creating a museum in the sky to give on-line access to the world's cultural heritage [9]. This appears to be a sensitive and caring concept, but we should remember that museums are simply storage places for dead and obsolete things. | In as much therefore as the dominant images of the world are western and the universal language is English, it follows that the only way to limit the resulting cultural imperialism is for governments to pass laws to regulate what appears on TV and computer networks. In doing this they will be protecting their own cultures. A group of leading Internet activists recently proposed creating a museum in the sky to give on-line access to the world's cultural heritage (Fields 1999). This appears to be a sensitive and caring concept, but we should remember that museums are simply storage places for dead and obsolete things. |
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