Sri Lankan English: An Unrecognised Creole – By Randika Jayakody & Jerome Perera
Source : Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter – Dæhæna – June 2023
English language ostensibly arrived in Ceylon in 1796 with the first British sailors and immediately began evolving into a new language. In order to understand this change, it is important to understand two terms.
A pidgin is the result of two or more different languages meeting. This leads to the development of a new language using vocabulary, grammar, and language habits of all these languages. When this new language is transmitted to a new generation as their mother tongue, the language becomes a creole.
It is within this context that I wish to introduce the concept of Sri Lankan English Creole (SLEC) to describe a type of English unique to Sri Lanka.
Some unique features of SLEC that readers may recognise: SLEC completely reorganises Standard English grammar, and adds words and sentiments from the 20 or more languages in SL in order to express complex concepts. For example: “Aiyoo, real sothy fellow no?” incorporates the Dravidian language words aiyoo and sothy, meaning feeble or ineffectual, with Sinhala grammar and English vocabulary.
There is the use of Victorian idioms and metaphors as a method of expressing emotions. For instance, “aaa, gone for a six” is used to denote a disappointing accident. Or the term “many happy returns of the day” as a birthday wish. Or “real bull in a China shop no men” to express frustration at clumsiness.
There is an inversion of English grammar like a jazz musician playing with musical scales “Ane, on the light will-you”. Then there are humorous examples of character judgement: “Here, that bugger is an ace boozer men!” when disparagingly referring to drunkenness. Or “They are carrying on like nothing ah!” to signify a blatant affair or romantic relationship.
There is also a complex tonality, gestures, and facial expressions complementing each statement which conveys a great deal of meaning. For instance, “ane-sin no?” when expressing strong feelings of pity or sympathy is often accompanied by a sad facial expression.
Sometimes a single word can convey a great deal of meaning. “You have put-on” indicates the listener has gained weight. “Here, just wait men”, which appears in standard English as a request for patience but is actually a stern expression of disbelief in SLEC.
Akin to the Sinhala “Meh nikan inna”. Many nations have embraced their English creoles, such as Singlish and Manglish in Singapore and Malaysia. West African and Belizean creoles, Jamaican Patois, and Tok Pisin from Papua New Guinea.
SLEC has not received the recognition it deserves, particularly in light of class conscious obsessions with correctness in English. SLEC is often disparagingly referred to by some as broken English or sometimes Lansi English.
Randika Jayakody & Jerome Perera
Among Randika and Jerome’s many interests is a deep
passion to understand Sri Lankan history and culture.
