LANGUAGE SHIFT IN TAMIL LANGUAGE IN KELURAHAN SEI PUTIH TIMUR II KECAMATAN MEDAN PETISAH.

LANGUAGE SHIFT IN TAMIL LANGUAGE IN KELURAHAN
SEI PUTIH TIMUR II KECAMATAN MEDAN PETISAH

A Thesis

Submitted to the English Applied Linguistics Study Program in
Partial Fulfillment of the Registration for the Degree of
Magister Humaniora

By:

BAMBANG IRWAN
Registration Number: 8146111009

ENGLISH APPLIED LINGUISTICS STUDY PROGRAM
POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL
STATE UNIVERSITY OF MEDAN
MEDAN
2016

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT


Alhamdulillah, in the name of Almighty ALLAH, the most Gracious and
the most Merciful, first of all, the writer would like to thank God for His blessing
in the completion of this Thesis. Praises are also addressed to our prophet
Muhammad SAW who guided us to the better life.
In the completion of this Thesis, the writer wishes to acknowledge his
deepest gratitude for all generous guidance and assistance which has been given to
him by a lot of people.
The highest appreciation goes to his two advisors, Prof.Dr.Busmin
Gurning,M.Pd as his first advisor and Dr. Thyrhaya Zein,M.A as his second
advisor for their all guidance through the completion of this Thesis.
Then, his appreciation also goes to Dr. Rahmad Husein, M.Ed. as the
Head of English Applied Linguistics Study Program and Dr. Anni Holila,M.Hum
as the Secretary of English Applied Linguistics Study Program who have assisted
him in processing the administration requirements during the process of his
studies in the postgraduate School of the State University of Medan.
The writer’s great thank also goes to his reviewers and examiners,Prof.
Dr. Sumarsih, M.Pd, Dr. Rahmad Husein, M.Ed, and Prof. Dr. Sri Minda Murni,
MS.They have given valuable inputs, suggestion, criticism, and improvements for
this thesis. He also would like to express his thankfullness for all lecturers

teaching him through during the acedemic years at LTBI.
Finally, his special gratitude is dedicated to his beloved parents, Sima
Runta who has given her pray, motivation, support, and also endless praying. And

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also special thank for his sister, brother, and the whole families who always
support him and no suitable word that can fully describe their everlasting love and
express how much he loves them.
Then his gratitude goes to his beloved wife Juli Iriani who has motivated
and supported him to conduct this Thesis. Then, last but not least, his gratitude
goes to his friends of LTBI A1 XXIV who have supported him to conduct this
Thesis.

Medan, …………… 2016
The Writer,

BAMBANG IRWAN
Reg. No. 8146111009


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ABSTRACT

BAMBANG IRWAN. Registration Number: 8146111009. Language Shift in
Tamil language in Kelurahan Sei Putih Timur II Kecamatan Medan Petisah.A
Thesis.Post Graduate School.English Applied Linguistic Study Program.The State
University of Medan 2016.

This study deals with Tamil language shift in Sei putih Timur II Kecamatan
Medan Petisah. It aims to find out the factors of Tamil shift in Indonesian
language, the pattern of Tamil language shift and the reason of Tamil language
shift in Kelurahan Sei Putih Timur II Kecamatan Medan Petisah. The Data were
obtained from the family of Tamil people living in Kelurahan sei Putih Timur II
Kecamatan Medan Petisah. The study employs qualitative research design with a
single case study to get the understanding on this study. The subjects of this study
were 10 families. The subjects were devided into two groups, namely parents and
children. The reason for deviding the subjects into two groups is because langugae
shift happens across the generation.Questionners, interview and observation were
used to obtain the data. The data were analyzed by using data collection, data

condensation, data display and verivication. The findings showed that the shift of
Tamil language into Indonesian language in Kelurahan Sei putih Timur II
Kecamatan Medan Petisah was influenced by bilingualism,migration, economic
factor, social factor,demographic factors, institutional factor,and attitudes. The
Tamil language shift to Indonesian language occurred in the pattern of
relationship between parents and children and among the childrend, and the shift
of Tamil language to Indonesian language are mostly caused by language used
since a child.

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ABSTRAK
BAMBANG IRWAN.Nomor Induk Mahasiswa: 8146111009. Pergeseran Bahasa
Tamil di Kelurahan Sei Putih Timur II Kecamatan Medan Petisah.Tesis.Sekolah
Pascasarjana.Program Studi linguistik Terapan Bahasa Inggris. Universitas Negeri
Medan.2016
Penelitian ini mengkaji tentang pergeseran bahasa Tamil di Kelurahan Sei Putih
Timur II Kecamatan Medan Petisah. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk faktor-faktor
yang mempengaruhi pergeseran bahasa Tamil ke bahasa Indonesia di Kelurahan
Sei Putih Timur II Kecamatan Medan Petisah,pola pergeseran bahasa Tamil dan

alasan pergeseran bahasa Tamil di Kelurahan Sei Putih Timur II Kecamatan
Medan Petisah.Data penelitian ini diperoleh dari keluarga suku Tamil yang tinggal
di Kelurahan Sei Putih Timur II Kecamatan Medan Petisah. Desain penelitian
yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah penelitian kualitatif dengan studi
kasus untuk memperoleh pemahaman mengenai pergeseran bahasa Tamil di
Kelurahan Sei Putih Timur II Kecamatan Medan Petisah. Subjek dari penelitian
ini adalah 10 keluarga. Subjek dibagi menjadi dua grup yaitu orang tua dan anakanak. Alasan pembagian subjek penelitian menjadi dua karena pergeseran bahasa
terjadi antar generasi. Data penelitian ini diperoleh dengan menggunakan
quisioner, wawancara dan observasi. Data tersebut dianalisis melalui tahapan
pengumpulan data, pemilihan data, pemaparan data, dan verifikasi data. Temuan
dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa pergeseran bahasa Tamil ke bahasa
Indonesia di Kelurahan Sei Putih Timur II Kecamatan Medan Petisah dipengaruhi
oleh faktor kedwibahasaan, migrasi, ekonomi, sosial, demografi, lembaga, dan
sikap. Pergeseran bahasa Tamil ke bahasa Indonesia terjadi dalam pola hubungan
antara orang tua dengan anak-anak dan antara sesama anak-anak. Dan pergeseran
bahasa Tamil ke bahasa Indonesia umumnya disebabkan oleh bahasa yang
digunakan sejak anak-anak.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENT..................................................................................i
ABSTRACT...............................................................................................................iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS...........................................................................................v
LIST OF DIAGRAM................................................................................................vii
LIST OF FIGURE.....................................................................................................viii
LIST OF APPENDICES...........................................................................................ix

Chapter I. Introduction ................................................................................. 1
1.1The Background of the Study ....................................................... 1
1.2 The Problems of the Study........................................................... 10
1.3 The Objectives of the Study......................................................... 11
1.4 The Scope of the Study ................................................................ 11
1.5 The Significant of the Study ........................................................ 12
Chapter II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ............................. 13
2.1Language Shift .............................................................................. 13
2.1.1 Dimension in Language Shift Study ................................. 16
2.2 Factors that Cause Language Shift .............................................. 18
2.2.1 Bilingualism ....................................................................... 18
2.2.2 Migration ........................................................................... 21

2.2.3 Economic and SocialFactors .............................................. 22
2.2.4 Political Factors ................................................................. 23
2.2.5 Demographic Factors ......................................................... 25
2.2.6 Attitudes and Values .......................................................... 27
2.3 Pattern of language shift .............................................................. 29
2.4 Effect of Language Shift .............................................................. 32
2.5 Reason for Language Shift........................................................... 33
2.6 Tamil Language ........................................................................... 34
2.7 Tamil People in Medan ................................................................ 36
2.8 Previous Related Studies.............................................................. 42
2.9 Conceptual Framework ................................................................ 46
Chapter III.RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................ 49
3.1 Research methodology ................................................................ 49
3.2 Subject of the Research............................................................... 49
3.3 The Instrument of DataCollection .............................................. 50
3.4 The Technique of Data Collection .............................................. 51
3.5 The Technique of Data Analysis ................................................ 52
3.6 Triangulation ............................................................................... 54
3.7 The Trustworthiness of the Study ............................................... 55
Chapter IV. DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS ..................................... 58

4.1 Data....................................................................................... .. 58
4.2 Data analys .................................................................................. 58
4.2.1 Reasons in Tamil Language Shift into Indonesian Language .. 81
4.2.2 Findings ............................................................................. 83
4.2.3 Discussion .......................................................................... 83

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4.3 Factors that Influence Tamil Shift in Kelurahan Sei Putih Timur II
Kecamatan Medan Petisah .......................................................... 83
4.3.1 The Pattern of Tamil Shift in Kelurahan Sei Putih Timur II
Kecamatan Medan Petisah ................................................ 85
4.3.2 Reasons for Tamil Shift into Indonesian Language................
.. 86
Chapter V. CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTION...................................... 88
5.1 Conclusion .................................................................................. 88
5.2 Suggestions ................................................................................. 89
REFERENCES................................................................................................. 90
APPENDICES ................................................................................................. 94


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LIST OF DIAGRAM
Page
Diagram 2.1.Constract used toinvestigate the language shift

vii

48

LIST OF FIGURE
Page
Figure 3.1 Miles & Huberman’s Interactive Model

viii

41

LIST OF APPENDIXES
Page

Appendix 1
Appendix 2

194
101

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CHAPTER V
CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTION
5.1 Conclusion
The study which is concerned with the Tamil shift to Indonesian language
was aimed at describing the factors influencing Tamil language shift, the pattern
of the language shift and the reasons for the Tamil language shift into Indonesian
language. Based on the findings, conclusion are drawn as the following.
(1) The shift of Tamil language into Indonesian language in Kelurahan Sei
Putih Timur II Kecamatan Medan Petisah was influenced by bilingualism,
migration,

economic


factor,

social

factor,

demographic

factors,

institutional factor, and attitude.
(2) The Tamil language shift into Indonesian language occurred in pattern of
relationship between parents and children and between or among children.
(3) The reasons for the shift were habits, the social success and the status of
Indonesian language. The shifts of Tamil language to the Indonesian are
mostly caused by the habit.

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5.2 Suggestions
In relations to the conclusions, some constructive points are suggested as
the following.
(1) It is suggested that the Tamil parents in Kelurahan Sei Putih Timur II
Kecamatan Medan Petisah should keep on speaking Tamil language
among family members in family domain in order that the children as the
next generation can learn and speak Tamil language.
(2) It is suggested that the Tamil people in Kelurahan Sei Putih Timur II
Kecamatan Medan Petisah should promote Tamil traditional attractions or
other Tamil ceremonies in their society to enable the Tamil people to be
familiar and accustomed to Tamil language use.
(3) Finally, it is suggested that the Tamil people in Kelurahan Sei Putih Timur
II Kecamatan Medan Petisah should promote Tamil language by
establishing some speech contest of attractions relating to Tamil language
in Kelurahan Sei Putih Timur II Kecamatan Medan Petisah in order to
motivate the Tamil people to appreciate and use Tamil language.

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