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English and Sinhala bilingualism in Sri Lanka1

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2008

Chitra Fernando
Chitra Fernando
Affiliation:
Macquarie University, North Ryde, Australia
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Abstract

This study describes the language situation of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and examines the factors governing the language choice of Sinhalese bilinguals while attempting to correlate such factors with domains and role relations. It also examines the way in which such correlations reflect social differences in Sri Lankan society. The use of two languages by the same speakers almost inevitably affects the forms of the languages so used. The use of English by Sinhalese speakers has led to the functional elaboration of both English and Sinhala. Bilinguals show varying degrees of proficiency in the languages they use. Such disparities in performance have led to differing patterns of bilingualism manifested in different phonological and grammatical features. Materials are drawn from the English of newspapers, fiction, drama, poetry etc. and personal knowledge. (Language as a class indicator; bilingualism; conflict of speech norms; Sri Lankan English.)

Type
Articles
Information
Language in Society , Volume 6 , Issue 3 , December 1977 , pp. 341 - 360
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

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