d promote both a common language and
multilingualism: "In 1994, I was working for a college and
trying to install a software package on a particular type of
computer. I located a person who was working on the same
problem and we began exchanging email. Suddenly, it hit me...
the software was written only 30 miles away but I was getting
help from a person half way around the world. Distance and
geography no longer mattered! OK, this is great! But what is it
leading to? I am only able to communicate in English but,
fortunately, the other person could use English as well as
German which was his mother tongue. The internet has removed
one barrier (distance) but with that comes the barrier of
language. It seems that the internet is moving people in two
quite different directions at the same time. The internet
(initially based on English) is connecting people all around
the world. This is further promoting a common language for
people to use for communication. But it is also creating
contact between people of different languages and creates a
greater interest in multilingualism. A common language is great
but in no way replaces this need. So the internet promotes both
a common language *and* multilingualism. The good news is that
it helps provide solutions. The increased interest and need is
creating incentives for people around the world to create
improved language courses and other assistance, and the
internet is providing fast and inexpensive opportunities to
make them available."

The internet could also be a tool to develop a "cultural
identity". During the Symposium on Multimedia Convergence
organized by the International Labor Office (ILO) in January
1997, Shinji Matsumoto, general secretary of the Musicians'
Union of Japan (MUJ), explained: "Japan is quite receptive to
foreign culture and foreign technology. (...) Foreign culture
is pouring into Japan and, in fact, the domestic market is
being dominated by foreign products. Despite this, when it
comes to preserving and further developing Japanese culture,
there has been insufficient support from the government. (...)
With the development of information networks, the earth is
getting smaller and it is wonderful to be able to make cultural
exchanges across vast distances and to deepen mutual
understanding among people. We have to remember to respect
national cultures and social systems."

As the internet quickly spread worldwide, more and more people
in the U.S.