Talking in the temple: a case study of language use and attitudes in the Shree Raam Mandir in Wijchen, The Netherlands

Authors

  • Sjaak Kroon Tilburg Univerity Author
  • Jeanne Kurvers Tilburg University Author
  • Renate Remie Tilburg University Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/sols.v5i2.235

Keywords:

literacy, Sarnami, Hindustani diaspora, Mandir, script

Abstract

This paper presents a case study of the Hindustani community attending the Shree Raam Mandir in Wijchen, the largest Hindu temple in the Netherlands. On the basis of a questionnaire, in-depth interviews and observations, data were gathered about oral and written use of and attitudes towards the three main languages of the community, i.e., Dutch, Sarnami and Hindi. Our findings reveal that Dutch is the high-status and main public language of the Hindustani community in Wijchen, both in spoken and in written form. Sarnami, an informal and mainly oral language, has a rather low status and is still used in the community by the older generation. Hindi, the language of Hinduism, however, is highly valued by the community, although it is hardly known and therefore hardly used by its members. These outcomes, all showing Dutch steadily gaining ground on Sarnami and Hindi, are discussed within the wider framework of the double migration history of the Hindustani community, and of religion and identity.

Author Biographies

  • Sjaak Kroon, Tilburg Univerity
    Sjaak Kroon is a member of the Tilburg University, Department of Culture Studies’ research programme Language and Globalization. His main research interests are in the field of multilingualism, language policy and education.
  • Jeanne Kurvers, Tilburg University
    Jeanne Kurvers is a member of the Tilburg University Department of Culture Studies’ research programme Language and Globalization. Her main research interests are in the field of literacy acquisition, adult literacy and multiliteracies.
  • Renate Remie, Tilburg University
    Renate Remie used to be a master student at the Tilburg University Department of Culture Studies.

Published

2012-07-25

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Kroon, S., Kurvers, J., & Remie, R. (2012). Talking in the temple: a case study of language use and attitudes in the Shree Raam Mandir in Wijchen, The Netherlands. Sociolinguistic Studies, 5(2), 235-255. https://doi.org/10.1558/sols.v5i2.235

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