Lingua Franca, Lesson 2
Lesson 2: Fact-Finding Task
Focus: Does the dominance of a language shape what is visible and valued on the internet?
Learning objectives:
- Investigate real-world case studies that illustrate how language impacts the visibility, credibility, and accessibility of knowledge online.
- Substantiate or challenge the claims from Lesson 1 using evidence from media articles, video interviews, and platform case examples.
- Develop critical thinking and source evaluation skills by connecting practical examples to abstract knowledge questions.
| Critical Thinking Concepts | TOK Concepts | Reflection Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Confronting Biases and Assumptions: Recognize how language dominance can reflect geopolitical, economic, or institutional power. Exploring Contexts: Examine how translation, moderation, and platform design reflect or erase cultural perspectives. Responsiveness and Flexibility of Thought: Navigate how language can both expand access and create silos, depending on the context. | Power: To what extent does language determine who has the authority to create and disseminate knowledge in digital spaces? Culture: How does the cultural context embedded in language influence the way knowledge is understood and communicated? Perspective: In what ways do different languages shape distinct versions of reality, and how does this affect our understanding of truth? | How did the case studies challenge or deepen your understanding of how language influences what we see, trust, or ignore online? Whose knowledge or perspective was missing, silenced, or distorted in the examples you explored — and why might that matter? Can knowledge truly be global if it’s shaped by a few dominant languages? What are the consequences for those outside that linguistic majority? |
Resources and Preparation
- Slides, attached below.
- Students will need access to their Kialo discussions from Lesson 1.
- Ensure students complete the homework preparation task.
- Videos/readings accompanying the case studies of your choice should be viewed in advance.
Homework Preparation Task
Case Study Task
Discussion Prompt: Does the dominance of a language shape what is visible and valued on the internet?
Divide students into small groups and assign each group a case study related to the topic. Suggestions are listed below. Students will add their evidence to the Kialo discussion from Lesson 1.
Each group will:
- Reflect on how these cases connect to the concepts discussed in Lesson 1.
- Explore their assigned case using the provided resource and their own research.
- Prepare a short presentation (5–10 mins) responding to the question: How does language affect visibility, credibility, or accessibility of knowledge in this case?
Students should include details of:
- What happened in the case.
- How language influenced what knowledge was visible or valued.
- Which TOK concept (power, culture, or perspective) is most relevant.
- Whether the case supports or challenges a claim from Lesson 1.
Case Study Options
Wikipedia’s Language Divide
- Focus: The manipulation of smaller Wikipedia editions.
- Task: Examine how language communities shape the knowledge that is presented and trusted.
- Resource: Wikipedia Has a Language Problem. Here’s How to Fix It
Latin America – Invisible Science in Global Media
- Focus: The underrepresentation of Latin American scientists in English-speaking media.
- Task: Examine why knowledge produced in non-dominant languages is often undervalued or unseen globally.
- Resource: Invisible Science – Why Are Latin American Science Stories Absent in European and U.S. Media?
Facebook Mistranslation and Content Moderation
- Focus: The impact of translation systems and moderation policies on the transfer of knowledge.
- Task: Examine the impact of automated systems and bias policies on the understanding of cultural and linguistic nuance.
- Resource: Facebook Translation Fail Leads to Arrest
Language Infrastructures and the Future of the Internet
- Focus: The way language influences not just content, but the systems that build and deliver knowledge online.
- Task: Examine the potential impact of linguistic “bubbles” online.
- Resource: Will technology end the English Language’s global domination?
Introduction
Review key arguments from the Lesson 1 debate on the guiding question: Does the dominance of a language shape what is visible and valued on the internet?
Quick group reflection:
- What claims did you find most convincing or most problematic in last class’s debate?
- Were there any claims that felt hard to prove or lacked real-world examples?
Present the task’s central question: Does the dominance of a language shape what is visible and valued on the internet?
The emphasis is on applying power, culture, and perspective to evaluate how language shapes digital knowledge.
Explain that in today's lesson, students will investigate how real-world language practices, policies, and technologies (e.g., translation tools, media coverage, platform design) influence what becomes visible or credible online.
Clarify that the goal is to move from opinion to evidence. These case studies are not about language in theory — they’re about who gets heard, trusted, or erased online because of language.
Main Activity
Presentations
Students present their case studies to the class.
Students should take note of any useful points from other groups’ presentations to use in the Kialo discussion.
Recording Findings in a Kialo Discussion
Students return to the Kialo discussion from Lesson 1 and:
- Add at least one new claim or counterclaim based on their case study.
- Reply to at least one peer’s argument, using insights from another group’s case.
- Label their post with the relevant TOK concept (e.g., perspective — Arabic content suppression).
Focus areas for Kialo updates:
- Digital gatekeeping: Who controls which languages/platforms dominate?
- Cultural framing: How do translation and language communities shape meaning?
- Linguistic inequality: Are all languages and their speakers equally represented or trusted online?
Reflection Activity
Discuss the following reflection questions in open discussion or exit ticket format:
- How did the case studies challenge or deepen your understanding of how language influences what we see, trust, or ignore online?
- Whose knowledge or perspective was missing, silenced, or distorted in the examples you explored — and why might that matter?
- Can knowledge truly be global if it’s shaped by a few dominant languages? What are the consequences for those outside that linguistic majority?
- How do language, culture, and power interact to determine which knowledge is made visible and which is hidden on the internet?
- What responsibilities do we have — as students, creators, or consumers of knowledge — to engage with linguistic diversity in digital spaces?
