தமிழ்மொழிப் பயன்பாட்டில் தற்போதைய போக்குகள்: பல்துறை நோக்கில் பயன்பாட்டுத் தமிழ் - சிங்கப்பூர்

Tamil Language is one of the longest surviving classical languages. Its literary and linguistic affluence dates back to some 2500 years. It has its official status in Tamil Nadu, India where it originated from, and it is one of the official languages of Singapore and Sri Lanka. In Malaysia, it has nurtured students for two centuries, actively progressing through Tamil Primary Schools as the main medium of instruction and as a subject in secondary schools. It enjoys the status as family language and community language in the Tamil diaspora in many countries. Although Tamil language’s presence can be felt strongly in its native land and overseas, its usage is continuously evolving. This paper outlines the changing trend of Tamil language in Tamil Nadu, Singapore and Tamil diaspora societies. Although the native speakers, especially young native speakers, are immersing themselves in Tamil language, Tamil diaspora communities do face challenges. Youngsters are challenged in acquiring the language and sustaining their functional language competence. This is because the language is losing its status as the medium of interaction in the Tamil community as there is pressure to adapt to the host country’s lifestyle and achieve the goals of survival.