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The organized management of the Tamil language in Singapore : a kaleidoscopic description of the different aspects and the problems involved
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Type
Thesis
Author
Radhika Ramakanthan
Supervisor
Jernudd, Bjorn H.
Abstract
This dissertation provides a descriptive overview of the organised management of the Tamil language in Singapore. Tamil is one of the four official languages of Singapore and is taught in schools as a second language, is used in the media and there are existing social organisations that seek to promote its use. My dissertation thus, studies the use of Tamil in the spheres of education, media and social organisations, and highlights the problems encountered in these spheres, with respect to the prevailing circumstances in Singapore.
I have attempted to show how the management of the Tamil language is related to Singapore's policies in general. The most significant point of discussion is the policy of bilingualism and the value attached by policymakers to the teaching of "mother tongues" as second languages in schools so as to enable the different races to maintain their individual ethnic identities. Hence, substantial emphasis is placed on the language-culture-identity relationship, implying that the learning of the mother-tongue in schools as a second language and its use in cultural pursuits naturally leads to a maintenance of ethnic identity. However, what is more import is that this maintenance of identity and the rejection of the "melting-pot" concept is believed to contribute to the attainment of national goals. In keeping with Government policy then, in all three broad spheres that I have mentioned, Tamil language propagators stress this language-culture-identity relationship.
The dissertation covers a brief history of the Tamil language in Singapore and outlines the concerns of the leaders of the Tamil community, the most important of which is the falling communicativity in the Tamil language. A discussion of formal instruction in the Tamil language, its implementation in English-medium schools under the bilingual programme follows. Attention has been drawn to the curriculum in the teaching of Tamil as a second language, the textbooks used and extra-curricular activities that supposedly promote the use of the Tamil language. The difference between formal Tamil and informal Tamil and the presence of borrowings from English, Malay and Chinese in informal, spoken Tamil and the resultant problems faced by the students owing to these circumstances have been discussed. The use of the Tamil language in the media , the useful exposure it provides to readers, viewers and listeners and its role in the education system in disseminating language resources, has been reviewed. With regard to Tamil social organizations and their role in the promotion of Tamil language usage , it was discovered that although promotion of the language is a stated objective of many of the societies, often, safeguarding the interests of Indians in Singapore is emphasized. Eastman 's theory of "associated language" has been used to show how ethnic identity might still be maintained, even when the language is hardly used or used only in a cultural context.
Finally, as the overall language policies and the position of the Tamil language in Singapore are linked, i have dealt with the question of the validity of a government-backed Tamil language agency being established in Singapore, and drawn special attention to its dependence on the use of the Tamil language by the Tamil elite.
I have attempted to show how the management of the Tamil language is related to Singapore's policies in general. The most significant point of discussion is the policy of bilingualism and the value attached by policymakers to the teaching of "mother tongues" as second languages in schools so as to enable the different races to maintain their individual ethnic identities. Hence, substantial emphasis is placed on the language-culture-identity relationship, implying that the learning of the mother-tongue in schools as a second language and its use in cultural pursuits naturally leads to a maintenance of ethnic identity. However, what is more import is that this maintenance of identity and the rejection of the "melting-pot" concept is believed to contribute to the attainment of national goals. In keeping with Government policy then, in all three broad spheres that I have mentioned, Tamil language propagators stress this language-culture-identity relationship.
The dissertation covers a brief history of the Tamil language in Singapore and outlines the concerns of the leaders of the Tamil community, the most important of which is the falling communicativity in the Tamil language. A discussion of formal instruction in the Tamil language, its implementation in English-medium schools under the bilingual programme follows. Attention has been drawn to the curriculum in the teaching of Tamil as a second language, the textbooks used and extra-curricular activities that supposedly promote the use of the Tamil language. The difference between formal Tamil and informal Tamil and the presence of borrowings from English, Malay and Chinese in informal, spoken Tamil and the resultant problems faced by the students owing to these circumstances have been discussed. The use of the Tamil language in the media , the useful exposure it provides to readers, viewers and listeners and its role in the education system in disseminating language resources, has been reviewed. With regard to Tamil social organizations and their role in the promotion of Tamil language usage , it was discovered that although promotion of the language is a stated objective of many of the societies, often, safeguarding the interests of Indians in Singapore is emphasized. Eastman 's theory of "associated language" has been used to show how ethnic identity might still be maintained, even when the language is hardly used or used only in a cultural context.
Finally, as the overall language policies and the position of the Tamil language in Singapore are linked, i have dealt with the question of the validity of a government-backed Tamil language agency being established in Singapore, and drawn special attention to its dependence on the use of the Tamil language by the Tamil elite.
Date Issued
1989
Call Number
PL4751 Rad
Date Submitted
1989