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| Sunday, 5 June 2005 |
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Features |  |
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Augmenting the Sinhala technical language : The computer imbroglio by Aelian de Silva, B.Sc. Eng. (Lond.) CEng., FIEE (U.K.), FIE (SL.). Chartered Consulting Engineer. Part 1
Considering the Sinhala language, the initial and essential requirement is to compile a glossary of the required technical terms. This has to be approached in a well thought out manner, which is in keeping with the genius of the Sinhala language. The purpose of this present assessment is to assist in achieving a Sinhala technical glossary suited to guarantee the success of this all-important national venture. Sometime ago, this task was undertaken by the 'Computer & Information Technology Council of Sri Lanka (CINTEC)' and a pamphlet entitled "Glossary of Technical Terms - Computer Science" was released by CINTEC around June, 1991. However, CINTEC has now been replaced by a new state organisation called "Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA). apparently, the ICTA is in the throes of urgently meeting the need for Sinhala technical terms in the field of communication technology. The glossary produced by CINTEC was not the work of a set of mediocre persons. It was, indeed, produced by luminaries such as, Professor V. K. Samaranayake, Chairman CINTEC, Professor J. B. Dissanayake, Professor of Sinhala, University of Colombo, Professor G. D. Wijayawardena, Professor of Sinhala, University of Colombo, Professor Mahinda Palihawadana, Professor of Sanskrit, University of Sri Jayawardenapura, Professor S. Weeratunge, Professor of Sinhala, University of Kelaniya. Unfortunately, this glossary was unsuited for the desired purpose, as the basic requirements in the formation of the words had been overlooked. This aspect is discussed later. Development of the Sinhala technical language For centuries, the Sinhala language had been used for the generation of technical terms in order to meet the needs of unsurpassed technological development. For about two thousand years, the Sinhala people engaged themselves in the manufacture of steel from iron ore. Our present day steel factory imports steel ingots, roll them into steel bars, and also draw them into steel wire. On the other hand, from ancient times the Sinhala people converted iron ore into steel itself not only for home consumption but also for export. The famous "Damascus" swords were produced from the steel imported from Sri Lanka. The technical terms necessary to express such technology was certainly generated by the Sinhala language. Similarly, the technical terms necessary for the famous hydraulic engineering projects were also supplied by the Sinhala language. Indeed, Mr. H. Parker the British Irrigation Engineer, in his book entitled "Ancient Ceylon" says, "Such was the function of bisokotuwa of the Sinhala engineers: they were the first inventors of the valve-pit, more than 2100 years ago". It will be noticed that in coining the word bisokotuwa the ancient Sinhala engineers recognised the salient fact that by this contrivance the water of the reservoir could be led down in a controlled manner to the level of the paddy fields. Therefore, it was natural for them to call it the baswanakotuwa. This was one of the techniques available in the Sinhala language to generate new terms. When we recognise the fact that technical terms had been generated in abundance through the many years by the Sinhala language there is no question that the technical terms now required can be produced in a similar manner using the Sinhala language itself. Therefore, begging for terms from foreign languages such as Sanskrit is not only unnecessary but also such procedure is inimical to the establishment of an effective Sinhala technical language. Technical word formation adopted by CINTEC The terms of reference given to the CINTEC committee were to develop technical terms based on the Sinhala language, for it was the intention to use Sinhala as the medium for technical education. Instead of keeping to this essential requirement, it was a national tragedy that the committee was only capable of merely borrowing terms from the Sanskrit or English dictionaries. It was incumbent on the committee to first study the process of word formation inherent in the Sinhala language which had been effectively used for centuries and then develop the new words accordingly. This, they were unable to do. Their modus operandi was merely to transliterate related words existing in the English and the Sanskrit languages. This did not need any special expertise. To justify the puerile nature of this exercise, what was relied upon was the fact that the English themselves had borrowed their technical terms from the Latin language. Accordingly, it was considered that the Sinhala people too were duty bound to borrow from another language such as Sanskrit. In support of this argument, a myth, to the effect that Sanskrit was the language that gave birth to the Sinhala language, was spread to beguile the unsuspecting public. In the 3rd/4th centuries the great Panini injected a stylised grammatical structure to a Prakrit language and created what is now known as the Sanskrit language. India, which boasts of hundreds of languages, was unable to find a common language for the exchange of information amongst its people. As Latin was used in the selfsame manner in the West, Sanskrit was create to meet the requirement of a common language. It was Panini who created the Sanskrit language by introducing an artificial grammar to a Prakrit language. Before that, there was no language known as Sanskrit. The Sinhala language existed from much earlier times and had its own phonology, its own morphology and its own grammatical structure. It was in effective use even by king Pandukabhaya reputed for instituting the first municipal system in the world. Therefore, to argue that since the English language borrowed largely from the Latin language we also should borrow words from the Sanskrit language is preposterous. Characteristics associated with formation of new words I have comprehensively analysed this aspect of effectively using the Sinhala language for the production of technical terms, as well as the fact that Sanskrit appeared on the scene much later than Sinhala, in my book entitled "Technical terms in Sinhala" which explains the consistent manner in which words have been formed in the Sinhala language and indicates how new words could be derived based on the same technique. As examples there are over 3000 new words in their different functional forms such as Verbs, Nouns, Adjectives, Adverbs. Also, the manner in which the verbs can be conjugated is indicated. Unfortunately, persons reputed for their knowledge of Sanskrit as well as Sinhala, though it fit not to critically analyze the contents of this book and thereby denied this nation the benefit of their linguistic expertise. The time is not too late for these academics to point out the erroneous aspects, if any, of my arguments and thereby assist the Honourable Minister to achieve his objectives. Such a critical review should not be conducted in camera but through the newspapers so that the general public could benefit by their wisdom. In this book entitled "Technical terms in Sinhala", the entire subject matter is expressed both in Sinhala and in English. Apart from other aspects, this feature had brought the contents of the book to the notice of UNESCO who has considered this book as a "new outstanding publication". (vide: Asia/Pacific Book Development (ABD) journal 2003, Vol 33, No. 3, published by the Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for the UNESCO). Setting up of facilities to produce the required Sinhala technical terms Despite the aforesaid unfortunate experiences, the tendency seems to be to yet again appoint academics conversant with the language content as well as academics associated with the technical aspects to form a committee and to rely on their combined ability to produce satisfactory Sinhala technical terms. In this context, one is reminded of the village tale where a blind man who was able to walk, carried on his shoulders a cripple who was unable to walk but had good eyesight, thus joining forces to gain combined ability to travel about. Unfortunately, the directions given by the cripple seated on the shoulders were not clearly understood by the blind man carrying the cripple. The result was both persons falling into a well! It is in the same tenor that we should consider the arrangement where the scientist attempts to educate the linguist of the subtleties of the English technical term, which resulted in the linguist giving birth to inane expressions. What the cognoscenti declare is the peculiar statement that the Sinhala people readily understood words coined using Sanskrit but were puzzled when confronted with unadulterated Sinhala terms. This, if true, is a very curious phenomenon. For instance, the people are supposed to readily recognise and understand a Sanskrit term such as thakshanaya to be the equivalent of the English term "technology". Even Panini himself, the creator of Sanskrit, had no such knowledge! According to Panini thakshanaya means "carpentry" and not technology ! Let us examine, though briefly, the damage that such bungling has prevented the setting up of a proper Sinhala technical glossary. Consider, the borrowed Sanskrit term thakshanaya, which is given as the equivalent of the English term "technology". What does the famous Sanskrit dictionary of Sir Monier Monier Williams say as to the meaning of the word "thaksha"? The meaning is given as: "To form by cutting, plane, chisel, to cut, split, to fashion form out of wood ..... Thakshaka, a carpenter". In spite of the fact that "technology" is associated with disciplines such as Medicine, Biochemistry, Agriculture, Legal Science, Engineering etc. these pundits, have classified those engaged in such professions, as "carpenters". Amazing is it not? I was always under the impression that Professor Vitharana, as the then Head of the Medical Research Institute, was engaged in conducting valuable research regarding the disease carrying microbes. It is only now that I realise how wrong I had been. Unknown to us, the good professor had all along engaged himself in nothing but carpentry! At a recent conference, it was claimed that, even though the meaning of the newly created thakshanaya is erroneous, there is no harm, as many persons are already using the term thakshanaya to mean "technology". The essence of this argument is that, if many are doing the wrong thing there should be no difficulty in accepting it as correct. To further bolster this contention reference was made to the statement "any deficiency to be supplied in line with usage". This statement is supposed to have been made by the scholar Pathiraja Piruvan, the author of the famous grammar book called the "Sidath Sangara". However, the actual fact is that, it is only a part of his full statement surreptiously presented in partial form to mislead the general public into believing that the pundits had acted correctly. Pathiraja Piruvan certainly did not recommend that the usage of all and sundry be accommodated. This subterfuge is tantamount to intellectual dishonesty! If our universities are capable of employing such persons what future can we expect for our children? For the moment, let us accept their contention as correct. Then, we have to come to the conclusion that the newly formed technical term is acceptable though it does not reflect the meaning of the English counterpart. This new concept is really great! We can then, within a very short space of time, spawn all the terms we need. We have only to find a host of Sinhala terms irrespective of their meaning. This can be easily achieved by obtaining a copy of the Namruwanmala, the Sinhala synonyms dictionary authored by King Sirisangabo Parakramabahu around 1400/1500 A.C., and fix, without any concern as to their meanings, the numerous Sinhala terms given therein, against the English terms under consideration! What a blessing this new approach would be! In English however such inane practices are not tolerated. Technical terms which do not reflect the correct meaning are corrected. For instance, the reference to the battery of a car as an "accumulator" is no longer acceptable because the said equipment does not accumulate electricity. The term battery has replaced the earlier term accumulator. To be continued
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It
is understood that Science & Technology Minister Professor Tissa Vitharana
is desirous of extending computer education to the rural areas. Apparently,
he is of the view that, the lack of an adequate knowledge of the English
language should not be in the way of understanding communication technology
and accordingly the national languages are to be used for the purpose. This
approach is, indeed, highly commendable. 
