ICLSL 2016

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/14246

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    Ancient Phonetics in India: A Study on the Phonetic Observations of Āranyaka by the Sages in India
    (Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Upananda Thero, Ambaliyadde
    Many scholars of linguistics generally know that the main languages used in early India were Vedic and Sanskrit. Moreover, they know that the study of such languages has supported particularly the investigations of historical and comparative linguistics of the worldduring18th century A.D. This paper attempts to identify the phonetic roots of the Āraṇyaka books composed in post Vedic language by different Sages in 7th century B.C. This study attempts to find out and analyse the early tendency in phonetic study by Indians. Āranyaka, a great literature of later Vedic period or the period before Pāṇinī, provides very interesting hints on phonetics. For example, Aitareya Āraṇyaka (II.2.I) compares the consonant to the night, and vowels to the day. Not only that the Āraṇyakaṣ states that the consonants are the body and the voice its soul (III.2.5). By analysing the evidence of phonetics in Āraṇyaka books using qualitative approach, an important analysis of phonetics of Vedic language can be found out. Besides, the diverse understanding of phonetic elements of the language such as breath, voice and communication etc. by early Indians can be identified. Though we are aware of Pāṇinī, Patañjalī who have emphasised, discovered and developed the phonetics of Sanskrit, the study of pre Pāṇiniyan literature also supports the gradual tendency of phonetic developments in India that became very rich after 3rd century B.C.
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    Codependency Proximately Characteristics of Sanskrit and Prakrit Languages in Corresponding Historical Linguistics
    (Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Samitharathana Thero, Wadigala
    Sanskrit and Prakrit are two ancient languages that show differences between them in terms of grammar and linguistic structure. Although Sanskrit and Prakrit are syntactically similar they show differences in their morphology and semantics. Morphology deals with word formation in a language. It is interesting to note that both the languages are genealogically classified to come under the Aryan group of languages. They both come under the Indo-European family of languages. Sanskrit is the official language of India and is popularly recognised as a classical language of the country. It belongs to the Indic group of language family of Indo-European and its descendants which are Indo-Iranian & Indo Aryan. The meaning of Sanskrit is refined, decorated or produced in perfect form. It is said that Brahma was the creator and introduced Sanskrit language to the Sages of celestial bodies. Therefore, this language is also called Dev Vani, which means the language of gods. It was during 18th century when a similarity between Sanskrit, Latin and Greek was found, which gave the reason to study and discover the relationship of all Indo-European languages. Prakrit (Sanskrit: prākṛta, Shauraseni: pāuda, Magadhi Prakrit: pāua) is any of several Middle Indo-Aryan languages. The Ardhamagadhi ("half-Magadhi") Prakrit, which was used extensively to write the scriptures of Jainism, is often considered to be the definitive form of Prakrit, while others are considered variants thereof. Prakrit grammarians would give the full grammar of Ardhamagadhi first, and then define the other grammars with relation to it.
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    A Study on the Use of English and Sanskrit Borrowings in Contemporary Sinhalese
    (Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Pawithrani, C.
    English and Sanskrit occupy significant places among the languages that have influenced the Sinhalese language. English and Sanskrit words have entered the lexicon of the Sinhalese language as both borrowings and derivative words. This study is concerned on the use of English and Sanskrit borrowings in contemporary Sinhalese. Data was collected by observing the use of English and Sanskrit borrowings in both spoken and written sources representing contemporary Sinhalese. The words directly borrowed from a different language without altering its form are known as borrowings. Borrowing Sanskrit words into Sinhalese has its history stretching at least up to Polonnaru era and most of those words are still being used in written Sinhalese. English can be considered the language with the biggest impact on contemporary Sinhalese. However, as opposed to those of Sanskrit, English borrowings are mostly used in spoken Sinhalese. The usage suggests that Sanskrit borrowings are preferred in written Sinhalese whereas English borrowings are preferred in spoken Sinhalese. As far as the Sinhalese language of the early eras is concerned, Sanskrit borrowings were used as an attempt to show one‟s erudition. Though this appears valid to a certain extent in contemporary Sinhalese, the major reason behind the use of Sanskrit borrowings in contemporary written Sinhalese appears to be spontaneity. The use of English borrowings in speech is also a matter of showing one‟s erudition and social status. In addition, as the case of Sanskrit borrowings, spontaneity can also be pointed out as a major reason for the use of English borrowings in spoken Sinhalese.