Good morning everyone,
We have chosen the following quote, not for any specific issue of English vocabulary, syntax or grammar, but rather because of the information it contains. The possible changes to the internet that Peter Suber discusses could significantly alter the way that the net works and how we use and interact with it.
From its birth, the internet embodied the principle of net neutrality: the pipes were equally open for all kinds of lawful transmission. ISPs couldn’t discriminate and favor one kind over another. The internet owes its phenomenal growth to the network neutrality principle, which allowed all comers big and small (most small when they first launched) to have the same access to users as anyone else. … But now cable and telecom companies want to discriminate, charge premium prices for premium service, and give second-rate service to everyone else.
Suber, Peter. “Three gathering storms that could cause collateral damage for open access“. SPARC Open Access Newsletter, issue #95, March 2, 2006
Here is Suber’s entry from Wikipedia:
Peter Suber (born November 8, 1951) is the creator of the game Nomic and a leader in the open access movement. He is a research professor of philosophy at Earlham College, the open access project director at Public Knowledge, and a senior researcher at SPARC
In addition to these activities, he publishes, on an individual basis, the “SPARC Open Access Newsletter”.
Translation:
No hemos elegido esta cita por alguna cuestión de vocabulario, sintaxis o gramática inglesa, sino más bien por la información que contiene. Los posibles cambios de internet comentados por Peter Suber podrían alterar significativamente la forma como funciona la Red y como la utilizamos e interaccionamos con ella.
Desde su nacimiento internet representaba el principio de la neutralidad: los cables estaban abiertos de forma equitativa para todo tipo de transmisión legal. Los proveedores de servicios internet no podían hacer discriminaciones favoreciendo un tipo por encima de otro. Internet debe su fenomenal crecimiento a este principio de neutralidad que permite que todos los recién llegados –tanto grandes como pequeños (la mayoría son pequeños cuando se inician)– tengan el mismo acceso al resto de usuarios. Pero ahora las empresas de cable y telecomunicaciones quieren discriminar cobrando tarifas superiores para servicios especiales de mayor calidad y dar servicios de segunda clase a los demás.
Entrada de Wikipedia sobre Peter Suber:
Peter Suber (nacido el 8 de noviembre de 1951) es el creador del juego Nomic y un líder en el movimiento Open Access. Es profesor-investigador de filosofía en el Earlham College, director del proyecto de acceso abierto en Public Knowledge e investigador superior de SPARC
Además de estas actividades, ejerce a título particular como editor del “SPARC open access newsletter”.
Comments on the vocabulary:
Principle = principio (con el acento en la primera sílaba; se pronuncia igual que “principal” = principal).
To discuss = comentar, debatir. This is another false friend: discutir = to argue; discusión = argument.
To prevail = prevalecer, triunfar, vencer
Today we’ll look at the rather versatile word “rather”:
= bastante: The annual report is rather important for setting next year’s budget.
= en vez de: Rather than calling him by phone, I decided to write him a letter.
= más bien: It is better not to purchase the dictionary, but rather to license the web version.
= mejor dicho: Peter Suber explains how the internet may establish two categories of transmission services; or rather, how commercial interests will probably prevail.
= preferir: I would rather work at the reference desk instead of in the cataloguing department.
= un poco: That user has a rather odd way of asking questions (odd = raro).
We hope that you can disconnect and enjoy your weekend, rather than thinking about work.
