A study of Sinhalizations in Sinhala-English Mixed Discourse

C.d.w Senaratne

doi:10.7575/aiac.alls.v.5n.6p.10

Abstract

Pronunciation plays a vital role in creating a language acceptable to all. This is also true in the case of Sri Lankan English (hereafter SLE). This study concentrates mainly on the phonological features of non-standard SLE, identified mainly by deviations in pronunciation of a few vowels and consonants. The objective of this paper is to analyze the terms characterized as non-standard by using Muysken’s theory on Code Mixing. The proposed analysis will categorize elements into insertion and congruent lexicalization strategies. The study will analyze recorded speech of 20 urban bilinguals to obtain data. Self-assessment questionnaires will be used to determine attitudes towards phonologically marked items. Results will reveal that terms which are phonologically marked as non-standard. These phonologically marked items identified as Sinhalizations show more affinity to Sinhala phonology and are based on the speaker’s first language. They are products of a grammaticalisation process.

Highlights

The status of Englishi in Sri Lanka keeps on changing
The aim of this study is to present the phonological characteristics that determine the linguistic status of Sinhala-English bilinguals in Sri Lanka and to analyze the terms characterized as ‘non-standard’ using Muysken’s typology on Code Mixing (CM)
This study suggests that the replacements cannot be categorized as errors if they occur in Sinhala utterances

Summary

Introduction

The status of Englishi in Sri Lanka keeps on changing. It is as widely used as the Sinhalaii language. The two languages are used simultaneously by speakers in informal conversations. Many describe English as a ‘tool’ in communication and others may opt to say it as a ‘weapon’ (Kandiah 1984: 117) used to stigmatize speakers. The mixing context between these two languages in Sri Lanka has brought about changes withiniii these languages and in the socio-economic status of the speakers. It has resulted in creating a mixed variety with many distinct linguistic features

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion