Sampling distribution for questionnaire subjects Observations and informal interviews

4.1 Procedures

Orally administered questionnaires were the primary method for assessing patterns of language use, attitudes and vitality in this survey. In addition to these questionnaires, observations and informal interviews were also made. The questionnaires were asked in Malayalam or the subject’s mother tongue if they did not speak the state language. The Language Use, Attitudes and Vitality LUAV questionnaire can be found in Appendix D. Questionnaire responses were collected from six sites shown in map 3, three each from Muthuvan and Mannan communities. The following codes and abbreviations are used in this chapter: MT means ‘mother tongue’, LWC means ‘language of wider communication’ Malayalam and “Both” when used in tables means ‘mother tongue and language of wider communication Malayalam’. Table 11 shows the questionnaire sites. Table 11. Questionnaire sites People Site Block District Muthuvan Kozhiyala Devikulam Idukki Muthuvan Kavakudi Devikulam Idukki Muthuvan Thalayirappan Devikulam Idukki Mannan Kodakallu Devikulam Idukki Mannan Kovilmala Kattappana Idukki Mannan Kumily Azhutha Idukki

4.2 Sampling distribution for questionnaire subjects

The researchers decided to find out if there is any variance between subjects that have completed different levels of formal education uneducated, primary educated and fifth class and above. People from 16 to 35 years of age were considered as young and those above 35 were considered as old. The researchers tried to find subjects for each possible combination of these demographic factors, but in some instances this was not possible since Muthuvan ladies were reluctant to talk with young bachelors from outside their village. Tables 12 and 13 show the sampling of subjects for Muthuvan and Mannan respectively. Table 12. Sampling of Muthuvan questionnaire subjects Uneducated Primary educated Fifth class and above Total Young Old Young Old Young Old Male 4 7 5 4 5 3 28 Female 2 3 - - - - 5 Total 16 9 8 33 Table 13. Sampling of Mannan questionnaire subjects Uneducated Primary educated Fifth class and above Total Young Old Young Old Young Old Male 4 2 6 4 5 3 24 Female 7 8 2 2 4 - 23 Total 21 14 12 47

4.3 Muthuvan questionnaire results and analysis

4.3.1 Language use

The results of the language use questionnaire are summarised in table 14. All 33 subjects responded to each of the questions. Table 14. Domains of Muthuvan language use Qn Domains MT Both LWC LWC and Tamil Tamil Their language 2a With parents 33 100 - - - - - 2b With their children 31 94 2 6 - - - - 2c With village friends 27 82 6 18 - - - - 2d With outsiders 1 3 - 18 55 10 32 - 4 12 2e Private prayer 27 84 2 a 6 1 3 - 2 6 - 3c By children while playing 31 94 2 6 - - - - a One subject mentioned both MT and Tamil At least 82 of Muthuvan subjects responded that they usually use their mother tongue in each domain they were asked about, with the exception of speaking with outsiders. It is unlikely that many outsiders know the Muthuvan language. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Muthuvan usually use Malayalam or Tamil with outsiders. The overall results show that the mother tongue is often used among the Muthuvan people for communication amongst themselves and that they depend on either Malayalam or Tamil whenever they want to communicate with outsiders.

4.3.2 Language attitude

4.3.2.1 Attitude towards mother tongue compared with LWC Qn.5. Which is your favourite language? MT Malayalam Both MT and Tamil Tamil 17 52 8 24 5 15 1 3 2 6 Half of the subjects expressed that they like their mother tongue better than any other language. Another 18 of the subjects stated that they equally like both their mother tongue and another language either Malayalam or Tamil. Qn.7. What language do your people young people like to speak when they go out? MT Malayalam Both 17 52 9 27 7 21 The objective of this question was to investigate perceptions regarding the attitudes of young people about their mother tongue. Half of the subjects believe that youth speak their mother tongue amongst themselves when they go out. Nine subjects 27 reported the use of the LWC, five of whom are young subjects themselves. Seven other subjects 21 reported that the young people speak both Muthuvan and Malayalam when they go outside of their settlement. Most of the 16 subjects that claimed that young people like to speak Malayalam or both Muthuvan and Malayalam, while outside their village, were young educated people. The results may indicate that young Muthuvan people have a generally positive attitude towards their mother tongue. However, it seems that those that are educated are more likely to use Malayalam either exclusively or in conjunction with Muthuvan while they travel from their village. Qn.8. Would your old people be happy if young people spoke MalayalamTamil in the home? Yes No Indifferent answer Other responses 19 58 7 21 4 12 3 9 The objective of this question was to learn about perceptions of the attitudes of old people towards the use of Malayalam and Tamil. Many subjects reported that old people are not troubled by the use of Malayalam or Tamil in the home. Nearly half of the 17 older subjects reported that they are not bothered by the use of these LWCs in the home. The majority of the subjects, including older people, believe that older Muthuvan people have an open mind towards the use of LWCs in the home. Qn.13. Do you feel that the Muthuvan language is as good as MalayalamTamil? Yes No 31 97 1 3 This question was asked to compare the disposition of subjects towards their mother tongue with their feelings about LWCs. Nearly every subject said that they feel that their language is as good as the LWCs of their area. 4.3.2.2 Attitude for continuing their mother tongue Qn.6. Do young people in your community feel good about your language? Yes No Other responses 29 88 1 3 3 9 The rationale for this question was to learn about the attitudes of the younger generation towards their mother tongue. A majority of the subjects 88 reported that young people feel good about their language. This attitude may help ensure that their mother tongue will continue to be spoken in the coming years. Qn.9. What language should a Muthuvan woman use with her young child? MT Malayalam Both 31 94 1 3 1 3 This question was asked to see if Muthuvan mothers prefer to pass on their language to the next generation. Almost all subjects expressed that they believe Muthuvan women should speak to their young children in her mother tongue. The responses clearly indicate that the Muthuvan people have the desire to pass their language on to succeeding generations. Qn.10. Would you be happy if your child only spoke MalayalamTamil? Yes No Happy and unhappy Neutral feelings Other responses 12 37 11 33 2 6 6 18 2 6 This question was asked to know how the Muthuvan people might feel if coming generations were to stop speaking their mother tongue in favour of an LWC. A number of subjects seemed to find it difficult to give a clear-cut answer to this question. Strictly speaking, it can be said that only 37 of the subjects directly said that they would feel happy if their children chose to only speak Malayalam or Tamil. 4.3.2.3 Attitude towards varieties of their mother tongue Qn.12a. In which settlement is the Muthuvan language spoken most purely? All are same Tamil Muthuvan Malayalam Muthuvan Don’t know Nowhere 11 34 13 41 4 13 3 9 1 3 The objective of this question was to find which Muthuvan speech variety is best accepted by the subjects. This may help to assess the attitude that subjects have towards their local variety, as well as towards other varieties of Muthuvan. A number of subjects said that the purest Muthuvan variety is spoken in their own area. Many Tamil Muthuvan and Malayalam Muthuvan subjects reported that their own variety is the purest. However, two Malayalam Muthuvan subjects reported that Marayoor a Tamil Muthuvan village is the best place to hear their language spoken purely. None of the Tamil Muthuvan subjects mentioned Malayalam Muthuvan settlements. Eleven subjects 34, all of whom were from Tamil Muthuvan villages, reported that all the varieties are the same. It should be noted that a majority of the questionnaire subjects were from Tamil Muthuvan settlements. Qn.12b. Why do you say that it is pure? Only 11 subjects were asked this question. Many different answers were given. The reasons that people gave for why they like the variety spoken in their area were: they can understand it easily; they like the style in which it is spoken; and because there is no mixing with other languages. The two Malayalam subjects who preferred the way their language is spoken in a Tamil Muthuvan village said they like it because it is mixed with Tamil. A few other Malayalam Muthuvan people on the other hand mentioned that they like their own variety because other people mix their language with Tamil. Qn.12c. In which settlement is the next purest Muthuvan language spoken? Only a few subjects were asked this question. Their responses were similar to those they gave for question 12a discussed above. Both Tamil Muthuvan and Malayalam Muthuvan subjects referred to other settlements in their respective areas.

4.3.3 Language vitality

Qn.3a. What language do your children speak first? MT LWC 32 100 - This question was meant to assess whether or not language shift has already begun. All of the subjects reported that their children learn to speak their mother tongue first. Qn.3b. How old are your children when they start to speak Malayalam or Tamil? Below 7 years old 8 to 12 years old 17 53 15 47 Just over half of the subjects 17 said that their children learned to speak an LWC while they were under seven years old. But almost half 15 of the subjects expressed that their children learn to speak an LWC while they are between seven and 12 years old. This is the age at which most children start to go to school. Qn.3d. What language do educated children that have lived in hostels use with their parents and other villagers? MT Both 9 56 7 44 All of the subjects reported that the children that had lived in hostels while attending classes outside their community use their mother tongue either exclusively or alongside Malayalam when they return. Qn.4. Do the young people know the Muthuvan language as well as the old people do? Yes No 33 100 - This question was focused on whether there might be any language shift happening among the Muthuvan. All of the subjects reported that the young people know Muthuvan just as well as the old people know it. Qn.11. Would you allow your son or daughter to marry someone from outside of your community? Yes No 7 21 26 79 A pattern of inter-marriage with members of other ethno-linguistic communities can be a cause or sign of language shift. However, 26 subjects 79 expressed their disapproval of inter-community marriage. Only seven people said that they would allow their children to marry outsiders. The responses show that many Muthuvan people oppose inter-community marriage. This attitude could help preserve their culture and mother tongue. Qn.15. Do you think that, when your children have grown up, they will still speak the Muthuvan language? Yes Yes, both Not sure 26 84 3 10 2 6 This question focused on the Muthuvan people’s perspective about the continuation of their language. Most of the subjects believe that the younger generation will still speak their mother tongue in the future. A few subjects think that both Muthuvan and Malayalam will be spoken by the next generation. None of the subjects specifically responded that they do not think the children will speak their mother tongue after they grow up, although two people said that they were not sure whether or not this would be the case.

4.4 Observations and informal interviews

The mother tongue of Muthuvan is the language of choice of their community, without any great difference according to age, sex or level of education. If there is any exception to this, it may be a few males especially those that have received formal education of fifth class or above and those who have more contact with Malayalis. Generally, Muthuvan speak Malayalam or even Tamil with outsiders and their own language within their community. The attitude of Muthuvan towards their mother tongue seems positive. They are not hesitant to speak their language before outsiders and see its developments as favourable. Many informal interviews showed that they are interested in having printed materials in their mother tongue. Although some of them have learned to speak the LWC, it seems that they respect their mother tongue and see it as a part of their lives and traditions. The language use and attitudes of Muthuvan seem to be in favour of their mother tongue. They appear to believe that their language will continue to be used by the younger generation. Since most of the settlements are in interior locations that are out of contact and lack educational facilities, the Muthuvan may remain in a generally monolingual situation. Based on these observations, it appears that the succeeding generations may speak their traditional mother tongue.

4.5 Conclusion