Is there any foreigner who can speak Tamil ?

**Soomy** · 28th February 2005, 03:57 AM

Hi, does it exist that foreigners can speak Tamil not especially in India and Sri Lanka (for example Singapore, Malaysia, etc.) ? It is outrageous or fantastic for Tamil people that a foreigner speak them in Tamil, what is their reaction ?

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**Mad Max** · 28th February 2005, 04:14 AM

Originally Posted by Soomy

Hi, does it exist that foreigners can speak Tamil not especially in India and Sri Lanka (for example Singapore, Malaysia, etc.) ? It is outrageous or fantastic for Tamil people that a foreigner speak them in Tamil, what is their reaction ?

I do not know why it should be unacceptable or outrageous.

Anyway, there is a member here who is a white canadian male, who speaks tamil. His indian name is Skandavelu Nadarajah.

**r_kk** · 28th February 2005, 06:42 AM

Recently there was a article in Kumudam about the some fluently Tamil speaking personnels working with China internationa radio broadcast.
http://ta.chinabroadcast.cn/
Some of them had even changed their name in Tamil because of their interest with Tamil language...

**Mad Max** · 28th February 2005, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by Soomy

Hi, does it exist that foreigners can speak Tamil not especially in India and Sri Lanka (for example Singapore, Malaysia, etc.) ? It is outrageous or fantastic for Tamil people that a foreigner speak them in Tamil, what is their reaction ?

Oh, by the way Tamil is an official language of the governments of Malaysia, Singapore & Sri Lanka. It might be possible the local chinese or Malays might learn some Tamil from their interaction with the Tamil community there.

Malay/Singaporean Tamils like RR & NOV can throw more light on this.

**santosh108** · 28th February 2005, 08:51 AM

Tamil is a non-compulsory course offered by the National University of Singapore (NUS).

A total of 400 undergraduates (non-Tamils) have taken or are currently undergoing this course.

Apart from local Chinese and Malays, it also consist a sizeable number of foreign students.

**Mad Max** · 28th February 2005, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by santosh108

Tamil is a non-compulsory course offered by the National University of Singapore (NUS).

A total of 400 undergraduates (non-Tamils) have taken or are currently undergoing this course.

Apart from local Chinese and Malays, it also consist a sizeable number of foreign students.

That's amazing. It is also gratifying to learn that non-Tamils are taking such an active interest in our language.

**santosh108** · 28th February 2005, 08:57 AM

I came across this article on an Australian who is fluent in Tamil. (hope the link works)

http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/stor...9447145&sec=f\
eatures

**NOV** · 28th February 2005, 12:36 PM

Before I comment on this, I would like to know the motive of the questioner. Why is learning Tamil outrageous?

**Soomy** · 28th February 2005, 09:53 PM

This is not my motive, this yes-no question for tamil people point of view, not mine...

**visu** · 2nd March 2005, 06:26 PM

This happened to my friend in melbourne. He went to a shop and heard some one asking " Thambi nalla irukingala". He looked around for indians .Couldn't find any. Actually it was the aussie shop attendant who spoke in tamil. He said to my friend that he stayed in pondichery for 10 yrs(Aurobindo) he married a tamil girl and they have kids and now residing in melbourne. My friend got a disount for his purchase as well.
Not bad.