The Impact of English Language Propagated by the Advancements of Information and Technology services in libraries on the Vernacular Languages of Sri Lanka

Authors

Anurin Diwakara Prof., University of KelaniyaFollow
P.D.D.D. Wickramasinghe, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence UniversityFollow
N.S. Gunawardana, University of KelaniyaFollow
Chaminda Chiran Jayasundara, University of KelaniyaFollow

Date of this Version

Spring 2-2-2024

Document Type

Article

Abstract

The development of information and communication technology has become the prominent reason for language contact in the native language varieties spoken in the South Asian region. The island nation Sri Lanka is home to a multi-ethnic population and the main vernacular spoken in the country is Sinhala Language. Using materials drawn from social media platforms, websites, internet forums and personal knowledge, this study sets out to examine the ways in which the English language has been making significant contact with the Sinhala language, which is the dominant vernacular language spoken in Sri Lanka due to the advancements in information technology. The findings exemplified that a significant impact has been induced upon the Sinhala language in terms of its spoken and written varieties through lexical borrowings and code-mixing. The influx of these English terms continues with the evolving developments in information and communication technology.