Sinhala Tamil languages coexisted for centuries - Prof. J.B.
Sinhala and Tamil, the official languages of Sri Lanka, have
coexisted for centuries as "languages in contact," enriching each other,
J. B. Disanayaka, professor emeritus, University of Colombo, said here
on Friday.
Sinhala was a member of the Indo-Aryan family of languages and many
Dravidian elements had found their way into the language due to the
"languages in contact" situation, he said while delivering the Fifth
Vesak Commemoration Lecture 2007. The Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission
organised the lecture along with Hatton National Bank, Sri Lanka, and
the India-ASEAN-Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Professor Disanayaka said religion was another factor that brought
the two languages together, as Sinhala Buddhists adopted Hindu religious
rites and customs.
The Sinhala folk religion was enriched by the Hindu folklore, as
could be observed in the connection between the cult of goddess Pattini
in Sri Lanka and Kannagi in Tamil Nadu. Buddhism also contributed to
secular Tamil culture, he said.
Many Tamil literary works gained popularity among Sinhalese scholars.
Sinhala was also influenced by Tamil medical literature and many Tamil
words entered Sinhala medical literature.
Dravidian art and architecture also brought the two languages close.
Courtesy: The Hindu
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