Abstract
In this paper, we study the network of global interconnections between language
communities, based on shared co-editing interests of Wikipedia editors, and show
that although English is discussed as a potential lingua franca of the digital space, its
domination disappears in the network of co-editing similarities, and instead local
connections come to the forefront. Out of the hypotheses we explored, bilingualism,
linguistic similarity of languages, and shared religion provide the best explanations for
the similarity of interests between cultural communities. Population attraction and
geographical proximity are also significant, but much weaker factors bringing
communities together. In addition, we present an approach that allows for extracting
significant cultural borders from editing activity of Wikipedia users, and comparing a
set of hypotheses about the social mechanisms generating these borders. Our study
sheds light on how culture is reflected in the collective process of archiving
knowledge on Wikipedia, and demonstrates that cross-lingual interconnections on
Wikipedia are not dominated by one powerful language. Our findings also raise some
important policy questions for the Wikimedia Foundation.
communities, based on shared co-editing interests of Wikipedia editors, and show
that although English is discussed as a potential lingua franca of the digital space, its
domination disappears in the network of co-editing similarities, and instead local
connections come to the forefront. Out of the hypotheses we explored, bilingualism,
linguistic similarity of languages, and shared religion provide the best explanations for
the similarity of interests between cultural communities. Population attraction and
geographical proximity are also significant, but much weaker factors bringing
communities together. In addition, we present an approach that allows for extracting
significant cultural borders from editing activity of Wikipedia users, and comparing a
set of hypotheses about the social mechanisms generating these borders. Our study
sheds light on how culture is reflected in the collective process of archiving
knowledge on Wikipedia, and demonstrates that cross-lingual interconnections on
Wikipedia are not dominated by one powerful language. Our findings also raise some
important policy questions for the Wikimedia Foundation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 9 |
| Number of pages | 20 |
| Journal | EPJ Data Science |
| Volume | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |