Diglosia iha Timor-Leste: Ita uza lian ida-idak ba funsaun saida?

Catharina Williams-van Klinken; Olinda Lucas

doi:10.53930/27892182.dialogos.7.41

Authors

Catharina Williams-van Klinken Dili Institute of Technology (East Timor) https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8498-2563
Olinda Lucas Translator https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7112-7963

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53930/27892182.dialogos.7.41

Keywords:

Tetun, diglossia, multilingualism, Timor-Leste

Abstract

Diglossia refers to the use of two or more languages within a single community, each with its own functions. Timor-Leste has a complex situation of diglossia, in that it has many vernacular languages, two official languages (Tetun Dili and Portuguese), and two “working languages” (Indonesian and English). This complex situation is a result of its complex history. This article looks at the functions of each of these languages over the twenty years since Timor achieved independence, and at the changes in functions of each languageover that time. Data is taken from 0the census, the authors’ own research, and published research by others. It concludes that vernacular languages remain totally dominant in the area of ritual, but that as home languages they are in many areas (particularly urban ones) being replaced by Tetun Dili. Of all the languages used, Tetun Dili has the widest range of functions in the community, church, education system, government, private sector, media, advertising, and linguistic landscapes, and it is still gaining ground. Portuguese is strong within the Ministry of Education, and in the field of law and justice. Indonesian’s functions have reduced greatly in all areas since independence, except perhaps for satellite TV programs. The role of English is limited mainly to communication with the outside world through reports to international organisations and through research publications. However the number of English-language private schools is increasing.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Catharina Williams-van Klinken, Dili Institute of Technology (East Timor)

Director of the Centre for Language Studies at Dili Institute of Technology. Started researching Tetun Terik for her doctorate at the Australian National University in 1993, and turned her attention to Tetun Dili in 2001. Research interests include grammar, discourse, lexicography, language contact, language change and translation, with particular focus on Tetun Dili.

Olinda Lucas, Translator

Translator within Biblia ba Ema Hotu, working on a common-language Tetun Dili translation of the Bible. She studies and researches Tetun Dili discourse in a wide range of genres, including prose and poetry, and teaches translation courses.

References

Boon, D., da Conceição Savio, E., Kroon, S., & Kurvers, J. (2020). Adult literacy classes in Timor-Leste and diverse language values and practices across the regions: implications for language policy-making. Language Policy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10993-020-09561-1

Cabral, E., & Martin-Jones, M. (2018). Paths to multilíngualism? Reflections on developments in language-in-education policy and practice in East-Timor. In L. Lim, C. Stroud, & L. Wee (Eds.), The multilíngual citizen: Towards a politics of language for agency and change (pp. 120-149). Bristol: Multilíngual Matters. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781783099665-009

da Conceição Savio, E. (2016). Studi Sosiolinguistik Fataluku di Lautém [A sociolinguistic study of Fataluku in Lautem]. (PhD), Leiden University.

da Conceição Soares, A., & dos Santos, F. C. X. (2020). Code switching in university classrooms in Timor-Leste. In S. Farram, et al. (Eds.), Hatene kona-ba Timor-Leste 2019 / Compreender Timor-Leste 2019 / Understanding Timor-Leste 2019 (Vol. 1, pp. 230-235). Hawthorn: Swinburne Press.

da Silva, M. M. A. (1900). Noções de Gramática Galoli, dialecto de Timor. Macao: Typographia do Seminário de S. José.

da Silva, M. M. A. (1905). Diccionario Portuguez-galoli. Macao: Typographia Mercantil.

da Silva, S. M. A. (1885). Catecismo da doutrina Christa em Tétum. Macau: Tipografia do Seminário.

da Silva, S. M. A. (1889). Diccionario de Portuguêz-Tétum. Macao: Typographia do Seminario.

de Albuquerque, D. B., & Almeida, N. C. (2020). Paisagem linguística de Timor-Leste: Multilinguismo e política linguística. Domínios de Línguagem, 14(4), 1197-1244. https://doi.org/10.14393/DL44-v14n4a2020-6

Direcção Geral de Estatística Timor-Leste. (2016). Timor-Leste population and housing census 2015: Population distribution by administrative área. Volume 2 (Language). Dili: República Democrática de Timor-Leste.

Fishman, J. A. (1967). Bilíngualism With and Without Diglossia; Diglossia With and Without Bilíngualism. Journal of social issues, 23(2), pp. 29-38. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1967.tb00573.x

Fogaça, H. A. O. (2017). O ecossistema fundamental da língua Mambae: aspectos endoecológicos e exoecológicos de uma língua austronésia de Timor-Leste. (PhD), Universidade de Brasília, Brasilia. https://repositorio.unb.br/handle/10482/31396

Freitas, J. C., Soares, J., Moniz, A. M., Mendonça, E., Lopes, A. F., Soares, L., & de Almeida, A. (2015). Language policy and practices at tertiary education institutions in Timor-Leste: Some preliminary findings. Revista Científica Multidiciplinar da Sociedade Timorense / Multidisciplinary Scientific Journal of Timorese Society, 1(1), pp. 15-25.

Godinho, M., Ximenes, A., Luan, B., & Williams-van Klinken, C. (2012). Lian ida ne’ebé mak estudante domina liu? Rezultadu peskiza pilotu kona-ba estudante nia kapasidade iha lian ofisiál ho lian servisu nian, iha 2012 [Which language do students handle best? Results of a preliminary investigation into tertiary students’ capacity in the four official and working languages of Timor Leste, 2012]. Paper presented at the Steps to the future: A cooperative workshop for education and training in East Timor, Dili, Timor Leste.

Grimes, B. F. (Ed.). (2005). Ethnologue: languages of the world (18th ed.). Dallas, Texas: Summer Institute of Linguistics.

Hull, G. (2002). The languages of East Timor: Some basic facts. Instituto Nacional de Linguística, Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e, Dili.

La’o Hamutuk. (2019). Projetu CAFE / Eskola Referénsia ho lia-portugés: Tempu ona atu halo avaliasaun. The CAFE Project / Portuguese Language Reference Schools: Due for evaluation.

Lewis, M. P., Simons, G. F., & Fennig, C. D. (Eds.). (2018). Ethnologue: Languages of the world (21 ed.). Dallas, Texas: SIL International.

National Statistics Directorate. (2006). Timor-Leste census of population of housing 2004: Atlas. Dili: National Statistics Directorate.

Newman, T. P. (2019). ‘Seidauk sai hanesan ami nia mehi’: A study of lecturers’ responses to multilíngualism in higher education in Timor-Leste. (PhD), University of Melbourne.

República Democrática de Timor-Leste. (2002). Constituição da República Democrática de Timor-Leste.

Statistics Timor-Leste. General Directorate of Statistics. (2017). Monografia Edukasaun 2017 bazeia ba Timor-Leste Sensus Populasaun no Uma-kain 2015. Retrieved from https://www.statistics.gov.tl/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Pre-TT-Education-Monograph-2017-fvTetum-as-of-12-Ja18.pdf Accessed 01 June 2021.

Taylor-Leech, K. (2009). The language situation in Timor-Leste. Current Issues in Language Planning, 10(1), pp. 1-68. https://doi.org/10.1080/14664200802339840

Taylor-Leech, K. (2012). Language choice as an index of identity: linguistic landscape in Dili, Timor-Leste. International Journal of Multilíngualism, 9(1), pp. 15-34. https://doi.org/10.1080/14790718.2011.583654

Thomaz, L. F. F. R. (1981). The formation of tetun-Praça, vehicular language of East Timor. In N. Phillips, & A. Khaidir (Eds.), Papers on Indonesian languages and literatures (pp. 54–83). Paris: Cahiers d’Archipel 13.

Thomaz, L. F. F. R. (2002). Babel Loro Sa’e: O Problema Linguístico de Timor-Leste. Lisboa: Instituto Camões.

Trudgill, P. (2006). Language and Dialect: Linguistic Varieties Oxford Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics (pp. 647). https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-044854-2/01492-9

Walter, S. L. (2016). The Mother Tongue-Based Multilíngual Education (EMBLI) pilot program endline assessment: Executive summary. Retrieved from https://www.laohamutuk.org/educ/CAFE/EvalEMBLIExecSummEn.pdf, Accessed 01 June 2021.

Williams-van Klinken, C. (2002). High registers of tetun-Dili: Portuguese press and purist priests. Paper presented at the Proceedings of the 2001 Conference of the Australian Linguistics Society, Canberra.

Williams-van KIinken, C. (2017). How a small local language took over a country. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmllk4yxPcE Accessed 03 June 2021.

Williams-van Klinken, C. (2019). tetun in Timor: How a local language rose to take over a country. Babel, 26, pp. 14–18.

Williams-van Klinken, C. (2020). Dezenvolvimentu lian tetun tuir dalan informal. In S. Farram, et al. (Eds.), Hatene kona-ba Timor-Leste 2019 / Compreender Timor-Leste 2019 / Understanding Timor-Leste 2019 (Vol. 1, pp. 96-103). Hawthorn: Swinburne Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315623177-1

Williams-van Klinken, C., & Williams, R. (2015). Mapping the mother tongue in Timor-Leste: Who spoke what where in 2010? Retrieved from http://www.tetundit.tl/Publications/Timor-Leste%20languages%202010.pdf Accessed 02 June 2021.

Williams-van Klinken, C., Williams, R., & Brites da Silva, H. (2016). tetun-Dili la’ós Dili nian ona: tetun nudar lian inan tuir dadus sensus nian [tetun-Dili no longer belongs to Dili: tetun as mother tongue according to census data]. In S. Smith, A. B. da Silva, N. C. Mendes, A. d. C. Ximenes, C. Fernandes, & M. Leach (Eds.), Timor-Leste: The local, the regional and the global (Vol. 1, pp. 65–71). Dili, Timor Leste: Timor Leste Studies Association.

Williams-van Klinken, C., & Hajek, J. (2018). Language contact and functional expansion in tetun-Dili: The evolution of a new press register. Multilíngua, 37(6), pp. 613–648. https://doi.org/10.1515/multi-2017-0109