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By Helena Herrero From smoke signals to writing, from writing to printing and from printing to internet. The already giant step which meant each of these advances become insignificant when compared to the impact internet has meant. Internet is the precursor of the Social Media Era.
With the arrival of technologies, times are reduced and distances are shortened. And what is more, every one’s voice is able to enjoy these advantages, giving his or her opinion a far larger reach.
No longer do newspapers and newscasts have the exclusivity of informing. In fact, Facebook and Twitter are the first mass media featuring any new. Although credibility is always brought up regarding new media, so should censorship in traditional media.
Therefore, social changes can be led by individuals who, necessarily, do not have to know each other as they may live in different parts of the world, may have different ages and different cultures but share a common point of view.
Linguists are no exception, in fact on the contrary, their background empowers them even more to such task. The power words have and the power those who master them hold have been subject of study since classical times. Fortunately today, facts and figures have a better accessibility and transparency, being able to better support arguments, instead of only relying on the speech’s smooth talk.
Linguists may serve as a double-edged weapon in this aspect. On one hand, their proficiency on languages will assist them detecting fallacies and any other forked strategies. And on the other hand, the same knowledge of language will enable them to present their point of view in the most suitable way, depending on their aim.
Therefore, in a multilingual world as todays, multilinguists hold much responsibility. Whether a foreign idea is translated truthfully to other languages depends on them. To extend its range without adding or subtracting any touch, enabling the target culture to judge it in the same conditions the original culture did. So that people can oppose the ideas they do not share and can encourage the ones they do share.
To sum things up, citizen journalism counts with a strong renewing impetus as a result of social media, which serves as an unlimited means. Empowering it to compete with mainstream journalism for its rapidity and scope. And in such scenario multilinguists are key figures, who may affect citizen journalism at an international level for better or worse.
Writer Elena Herrero Rico is a Spanish, Frenh and English Language and Translation Intern at Modlingua, India's No1. certified translation and Language service providers based in New Delhi
Linguists are no exception, in fact on the contrary, their background empowers them even more to such task. The power words have and the power those who master them hold have been subject of study since classical times. Fortunately today, facts and figures have a better accessibility and transparency, being able to better support arguments, instead of only relying on the speech’s smooth talk.
Linguists may serve as a double-edged weapon in this aspect. On one hand, their proficiency on languages will assist them detecting fallacies and any other forked strategies. And on the other hand, the same knowledge of language will enable them to present their point of view in the most suitable way, depending on their aim.
Therefore, in a multilingual world as todays, multilinguists hold much responsibility. Whether a foreign idea is translated truthfully to other languages depends on them. To extend its range without adding or subtracting any touch, enabling the target culture to judge it in the same conditions the original culture did. So that people can oppose the ideas they do not share and can encourage the ones they do share.
To sum things up, citizen journalism counts with a strong renewing impetus as a result of social media, which serves as an unlimited means. Empowering it to compete with mainstream journalism for its rapidity and scope. And in such scenario multilinguists are key figures, who may affect citizen journalism at an international level for better or worse.
Writer Elena Herrero Rico is a Spanish, Frenh and English Language and Translation Intern at Modlingua, India's No1. certified translation and Language service providers based in New Delhi
Video Links on Citizen Journalism http://www.modlingua.com/videos.html
