We speak Singlish... and are proud of it!

Sri Lanka is perhaps the only country where only one component of English is taught in a haphazard manner. To learn any language, we have to study four components of it: Speech, writing, reading and listening. Most Sri Lankans are quite satisfied with learning only speech, relegating all the other components to the limbo of forgotten things.

When the British left our shores, we became the owners of a rich legacy i.e, English. To learn it we have to spend our precious time and energy spread over a long period. It is not possible to learn the grammar, syntax and diction in a short time. But modern Sri Lankans are too busy to devote their time and energy to learn English the right way. As a result, they seek short cuts, easy methods and quick results when it comes to learning English.

When there is a need to learn English quickly, tutories open in every nook and corner to meet the demand. Today Spoken English masters are ready to teach the Queen’s language in three months. Not to be outdone, there are tutors who are prepared to teach the language in two weeks. They advertise that they can teach English “Absolutely without writing.” In these classes grammar is never taught and students are not encouraged to read books. The hapless students are given copious notes containing English sentences with the Sinhala or Tamil translation.

Spoken English

Most young and educated Sri Lankans regard the desire to speak English as it is spoken in England as a silly hang-up from a bygone era. Home-grown idiosyncrasies have worked their way into the mainstream to such an extent that only purists of the older generation question their usage. Everyone is breaking the rules and in a few more years we might be speaking a kind of English that nobody in England would understand!

Michael Meyler, the first lexicographer of Sri Lankan English

Sri Lanka is not alone in this scenario. Her neighbour India is facing the same problem. The reputed publisher Penguin has put out a dictionary of “Indish” which gives a graphic account of Indian English. Not to be outdone, Michael Meyler has published A dictionary of Sri Lankan English. The Penguin publication entitled Entry from Backside Only has been embraced by young Indians who blatantly mix English and Hindi in their speech.

Michael Meyler is probably not trying to popularise Singlish. He has compiled the dictionary to help people find the English terms for Sinhala words. For instance, words such as aappa (hopper), amu miris (green chilli), and komalafy (flirt) will help any foreigner to understand Sinhala words. Meyler is the first lexicographer to publish a dictionary of this nature.

Attitude

Economic prosperity seems to have changed our attitude towards English. As English has never been taught properly to most Sri Lankans, we often hear funny expressions such as “I’ll go and come soon”, “I’ll put a shirt and come”, and “Now not like those days, no”. If you happen to be in India, a young man will ask, “What’s your good name?” Once a receptionist told a visiting journalist, “My boss has gone out of station.” Only Indians may understand such ludicrous expressions.

As standard English is hardly taught or learnt in Sri Lanka, English newspapers find it difficult to recruit young journalists who can write good English. As a result, most national newspapers are compelled to retain the services of retired journalists to rewrite what others write! The situation will be worse in time to come because retired journalists will not live forever!

Written English

While spoken English is taking a nosedive in India and Sri Lanka, the written English is even worse. Business letters coming out of certain organisations are crawling with expressions such as “Dear sir, with reference to your above see below.” A business English lecturer once complained that the standard of English is so abysmal that students cannot write a sentence without three grammatical mistakes. Once an executive in a big company received an email from one of his young subordinates who had gone abroad. It read: “I am in well here and hope you are in the same well”.

Once a young doctor asked a patient, “How often do you take sex?” Then there was this notice in a dispensary: “Don’t do nuisance in public.” Try not to laugh at such expressions. That’s Sri Lankan English!