# Exploring the Dominance of the English Language on the Websites of EU Countries
## 2 Language on the Web  
Half a century ago, [PERSON] introduced and popularized the term \"global village\" as the effect of an interconnected world due to the massive consumption of media (2018). Internet as a medium of communication fulfilled this forecast by connecting people in distant locations and by intensifying relations. The Internet and the Web can be recognized as basic carriers or means of globalization when it comes to communication. Of course, we should take into account the digital divide (2018), but in general, Internet usage is steadily growing with Internet penetration being at 58.8% of the world population at the end of 2019 (2018). Globalization does not have a specific definition (2018) and it can take different meanings depending on the context someone is referring too. For instance, globalization can have financial aspects, cultural aspects, social aspects and more. Three decades ago, [PERSON] described globalization as the increase in worldwide social relations that connect remote localities in such a way that local events are formed by events taking place far away and vice versa (2018). We will use this definition because it is relevant to the topic under discussion. Communication technologies are transforming localities not only at a national level but at a more intimate and personal one [9]. Although the aspects and consequences of globalization are disputed, what remains undisputable is the increase in interaction that the Internet (as part of globalization) has spurred [10]. One of the aspects of globalization feared by scholars was homogenization, in the sense that there will be a standardization of lifestyles at a worldwide level and that the oriental and traditional cultures will be \"westernized\" [11]. On the other hand, other scholars believe that homogenization will not happen, instead what will happen is hybridization [12] and of course, someone should not forget the very well-known by now term of \"glocalization\" which is a mix of global and local, meaning that globalization will adapt to the local context [13]. It is commonly accepted that language plays a crucial role in a culture, as it is an integral part of it, and in a way, it is a \"symbolic representation of people\" [14]. [PERSON] [15] also points out the symbolic function of language mentioning that it is linked to people's sense of national identity. [PERSON] [16] characterizes language as one of the most immediate and universal symbols of people's identity. He argues that the need for identity preservation and intelligibility often lead people in different directions. The need for identity promotes the use of ethnic culture and language and the need for intelligibility pulls people towards learning an international language, with English being the first choice in most of the cases. Taking language as a part of culture in the context of globalization, it is worth investigating whether there is a homogenization, a hybridization, or glocalization of it in the Web context. For instance, we know by experience that there is a level of glocalization by accepting the use of terms such as \"Greeklish\", that means writing Greek words using Latin alphabet or the analogous case of \"Franglais\" which refers to the extended use of English words and expressions in modern French. There is also a level of hybridization when we adopt a foreign word and use it without translating it. On the other hand, homogenization is more difficult to observe. However, if cases where a language will be used as the main language of communication in the Web, then at this level we can talk about homogenization. [PERSON] [17], in an article about the globalization of the English language, characterizes it as undeniably global and international. In fact, [PERSON] compares English to previous world languages like Arabic, Latin, and Turkish, mentioning that in fact they were not global, but rather geographically and socially limited, while the English language has managed to transcend such boundaries and spread globally.