Abstract:
In Sinhalese language, personifying inanimate nouns is considered a device required in
poetry in order to maintain the poetic quality of the language. However, this device has been
used in both poetic and non-poetic works in classical Sinhalese literature. In the
contemporary Sinhalese language, this device has gone beyond works of literature and such
personified nouns can be seen in the everyday discourse of the language as well. In classical
literature, personified plurals have been used in both direct and indirect cases even though it
is restricted to the indirect cases in the contemporary usage. Personification can mostly be
seen in Sanskrit Borrowings ending with zhZ which require some device in order to
distinguish the plural from the singular in natural speech. It is apparent that a limited number
of pure Sinhalese nouns are also being affected by this device. Another paramount feature
apparent in this usage in the contemporary language is that the inanimate nouns are
personified mostly in order to form the plurals even though distinctive plural forms exist. In
Sinhalese, the root of an inanimate singular noun is mostly used as its plural form. However,
as a result of the overuse of personified inanimate nouns, the formal value of the regular
plurals is reduced or nullified and the personified plurals have gained currency as their lone
plural forms.
