Duty to ensure Tamil kept alive
LANGUAGE that is not spoken dies a slow death, Tamil leaders said at the Durban launch of a guide book for Tamil speakers.
Kamatchi Sothinathan, 86, the author, appealed to guests at the Arutpa Kazhagam Hall in Bayview, Chatsworth, on Sunday, to do everything possible to ensure the Tamil language was passed on to future generations.
She said the book would help speakers address audiences in Tamil at various events such as birthdays, weddings, christening ceremonies, funeral and memorial services and on religious occasions such as Pongal and Kavady.
“If a machine is not oiled and used frequently, it will soon rust and seize up. Likewise a language such as Tamil must be spoken often in order for it to be understood and kept alive.
“If you were born into a Tamil family, it is your duty to keep alive this ancient language,” she said, adding that she realised it was difficult to speak Tamil regularly in a country such as South Africa where English was popular among Indians.
“However, as far as possible, attempts should be made within the family unit at home to speak Tamil and even other Indian languages,” said Sothinathan, who is president of the Arutpa Kazhagam and has taught Tamil without charging any fees for more than six decades.
Dr Arumugam Pillay, a retired Tamil subject adviser with the Department of Education, said every Tamil home should have a copy of Sothinathan’s book to ensure the language was kept alive.
“Of all the ancient languages such as Tamil, Hebrew, Latin and Sanskrit, only Tamil is still alive because it is widely spoken in India, Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius and other countries.
“However, Tamil is hardly being spoken in South Africa and could soon be lost in this country unless strong efforts are made to speak the language.
“Many adults are now taking lessons, so that they can pass the language to the next generation,” he said.
A CD accompanies the guide book to assist learners with pronunciation.
Sothinathan can be contacted at 031 400 1360.