Abstract:
This paper focuses on a linguistic study on the Sinhalese verb system in middle Sinhalese era
with reference to the classical literary text "Buthsarana". Ancient written records are the main
sources in a historical linguistic study .There are two fold varieties of written records
regarding ancient Sinhalese language, namely inscriptions and literary texts. In historical
linguistics, Sinhalese language is classified into four periods due to structural variations,
namely Sinhalese Prakrit era, Old Sinhalese era, Middle Sinhalese era and Modern Sinhalese
era. Buthsarana written by Vidya Chakravarthi is one of the significant literary texts
belonging to middle Sinhalese era. No previous study has been done regarding this particular
area. However, A study on "The Verb in Early Sinhalese from the 3rd c. BC-the 10th c.AD
"have been conducted by Premarathna A C ,professor in linguistics as the PhD thesis
(unpublished) in 1986 , University of London. Diachronically an investigation on Sinhalese
verb will help to identify the gradual development of the Sinhalese verb system as well
synchronically; special characteristics of the verb in middle Sinhalese era can also be found
out. Therefore this study has both historical linguistics and structural linguistics value. Finite
verbs and nonfinite verbs, tenses, optative mood, causal verb, imperative mood, conditional
mood, past participle, progressive form, verbal nouns, inflectional and derivational suffixes
are among the special features that are discussed here.Linguists and those who are interested
in languages will be benefitted by the findings of the research.
