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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)