What is the Internet?

We all call the Internet the World Wide Web, but what does that really mean? Only 40 years ago the Internet was born in California, today the majority of the world uses it for work and entertainment. However, let's not forget that the Internet is still a work in progress, as such, it's evolving and may one day evolve to have a mind of its own. For example, it's interesting to imagine the similarity between the human brain and the Internet's interwoven network...could this mean that consciousness is on the horizon? Technically though, the Internet is made up of computers that are interconnected around the world and which are run on large networks, often from universities or businesses and brought into communication by the use of Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol, which are both communication languages used in technology.
Could it be human language that will have a role in its evolution?