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Background :
Tamil Diaspora and Identity
Author : Ms . Vellie Nila
Diaspora refers to the movement , migration , or scattering of a people away from an established or ancestral homeland . Tamil language hails from the Dravidian language family . The Dravidian language family is now concentrated at the south of India . However , it is spoken in many countries across the world . This is due to the large waves of migration by the Tamils . Tamils have migrated to different parts of the world as early trade settlers , coolies , refugees or in the more recent wave of migration as foreign talents . As these migrating Tamils move further away from their ancestral land , they have brought Tamil language along with them . However , what is the state of the language in these diasporic communities ?
Waves of migration
Mid 19 th to Early 20 th Century During the colonial rule , Tamils from Tamil Nadu took diverse trajectory paths .
• Indentured Labourers who signed a bond , brought to countries such as Mauritius , South Africa , Singapore etc .. They worked for low wages in harsh conditions and many did not return back home .
• Tamil traders who travelled around the world , mainly at South East Asia ( SEA ). Money lenders , who monopolised the industry in many parts of SEA .
Late 19 th Century onwards Free Labour movement due to colonial employment opportunities . E . g . Security After India ' s Independence ( 1947 ) Migration of professionals to UK and USA . Leaving ancestral place for good . Amalgamation into host country and culture . Tamils integrated well in some countries such as Malaya and Sri Lanka while being treated as 2 nd class citizens in countries like Fiji .
( Guilmoto , 1993 )
Diasporic communities
Malaysia – Level 4 ( Educational ) Tamil has the status of a foreign language . It is taught in Primary and Secondary schools . There are around 500 Tamil schools . There is a slow shift in language usage from Tamil to English and Malay
Singapore - Level 4 ( Educational )
Tamil is one of the four official languages . It is taught in schools . Funding is provided for Tamil arts and cultural activities . Presence of institutional support . Tamil translation committee in Singapore allows for standardization of the Tamil used across Singapore . There is an active Tamil literary societies and . Tamil literature is also taught in schools as well . Tamil degree programs are available .
Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale ( Fishman , 1991 ) Level Label Description
0 |
International |
The language is widely used between nations |
in |
trade , |
knowledge |
exchange , |
and |
|
|
international policy . |
1 |
National |
The language is used in education , work , mass media , and government at the national level . |
2 |
Provincial |
The language is used in education , work , mass |
media , |
and |
government |
within |
major |
administrative subdivisions of a nation . |
3 Wider Communication
The language is used in work and mass media without official status to transcend language differences across a region .
4 |
Educational |
The |
language |
is |
in |
vigorous |
use , |
with |
|
|
standardization and literature being sustained through a widespread system of institutionally supported education . |
5 |
Developing |
The language is in vigorous use , with literature in a standardized form being used by some |
though |
this |
is |
not |
yet |
widespread |
or |
sustainable . |
6a |
Vigorous |
The |
language |
is |
used |
for |
face-to-face |
communication by all generations and the |
situation is sustainable . |
6b |
Threatened |
The |
language |
is |
used |
for |
face-to-face |
communication within all generations , but it is |
losing users . |
7 |
Shifting |
The |
child-bearing |
generation |
can |
use |
the |
language among themselves , but it is not being |
transmitted to children . |
8a |
Moribund |
The |
only |
remaining |
active |
users |
of |
the |
|
|
language are members of the grandparent generation and older . |
8b |
Nearly extinct |
The only remaining users of the language are members of the grandparent generation or older who have little opportunity to use the language . |
9 |
Dormant |
The language serves as a reminder of heritage identity for an ethnic community , but no one has more than symbolic proficiency . |
10 |
Extinct |
The language is no longer used and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language . |
Mauritius – Level 5 ( Dispersed )
Tamil used as a symbol of identification and used in religious domains . It has been nationalised . Existence of Tamil Schools and resources . But , Tamil is not promoted via institutionally supported education . ( Eisenlohr , 2006 )