2016 TLF - STTU Thamizhavel Memorial Lecture

23 April 2016
9.30 am to 12.30 pm

Data from the Singapore Population Census show that the percentage of ethnic Tamils who speak in Tamil most frequently at home has been declining steadily over the last 3 decades. 70% of ethic Tamils spoke the language most frequently in their homes in 1980, compared to just 37% in 2010. This is a worrying trend, considering the support the government, community organisations and the local media are giving for the development of the language.

Tamil is a diglossic language. Over thousands of years, it has evolved into 2 distinct varieties – the Formal ‘Senthamizh’ and the Informal ‘Pecchuth Thamizh’ or Spoken Tamil. Socio-linguists generally agree that for a language to be considered a ‘living language’, it should be spoken by a significant portion of the community.

This seminar aims to study current trends in the use of Spoken Tamil in Singapore’s Tamil community. Participants will hear the view of educationists, and academics on how we can promote the use of Spoken Tamil in our homes and at a community level. Participants will also be able to interact with the experts and offer their opinions on how we can, as a community, prevent further decline in the use of the Spoken Tamil in Singapore. As mastery of Spoken Tamil provides a solid foundation for young learners of the language to progress to the more formal, written variety, we have to explore all avenues to promote the use of Spoken Tamil, especially amongst the younger generation.

Website: www.sttu.org.sg

S. Nalluraj
sttu.gensec@gmail.com