Sri Lankan English Morphological Processes: A Study Based on English News Broadcasting on TV1 Channel

Abstract

One of the main features of a living language is the frequent emergence of new vocabulary. Thus, English language also can be categorized under those languages. Considering the spread of the English language among many countries all over the world, an emergence of new words can be observed specifically in relation to each society and the cultures of those countries. Among them, Sri Lankan English (hereafter SLE) is the variety that is adapted in Sri Lanka producing many new English words in relation to its culture. Previous researchers have identified several word formations processes that are manipulated in some areas, such as newspapers, short stories, and novels. However, no research has been conducted based on the morphological processes in television English news broadcasting. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the word formation processes of the new vocabulary used in English television news broadcasting in Sri Lanka. Observing SLE vocabulary in English news broadcasting is the main method of collecting data. Prime-time English news on TV1 channel is observed throughout seven days as the sampling and the collected data (vocabulary) are categorized in terms of their word formation processes. The data is further analyzed by using Fernando’s (2012) classification of compounds, Zapata’s (2007) classifications of compounds, acronyms, and affixes, and Haugen’s (1950) classification of borrowings. Also, gathered data is shown in a qualitative manner. This study reveals that SLE is used in English news broadcasting. Further, it is discovered that, compounding, borrowing, affixation, and acronyms are the most productive morphological processes that are utilized in forming new vocabulary in SLE, and it is the Sinhala language that impacts most on deriving new vocabulary in relation to SLE.