Introduction to Sri Lankan English

Question 1

Definitions.

Answer 1

Gunesekara (2005)
• language used by Sri Lankans
•who choose to use English
•for whatever the purpose in Sri Lanka

Meyler (2007)
•Language spoken and understood by
• Those Sri Lankans who speak English as a first lan.
• and/or bilingual in English and Sinhala/Tamil

Question 2

Present state and history of English + development of SLE

Answer 2

Present state of English in SL 
Result of colonization 
Knowing English “born with a silver spoon”
In present : social accomplishment, 
privilege, vehicle of upward mobility 

History of English in SL
1802 - Crown colony➡️ English: official lan.
1815 - Fall of Kandyan Kingdom. Country’s administration in English.
1948 - independence, official lan- English
1956 - Sinhala only act, official lan: Sinhala
English dethroned
1956/1958 - protest against Sinhala only administration.
1987 Nov - English as a link lan.
Sinhala/Tamil as official languages
1997 - English was introduced to Education.

Now - English: 3rd government language
Second language.

Development of SLE
• Crown colony in 1802: official lan English
⬇️
• Pressure on Elites to use English
⬇️
• counter pressure on the rest of the community
⬇️
• created a variety that express identity, thought and emotions

☹️ during colonization SLE lacked context
🙂with decolonization SLE developed with SL context.