Browsing by Author "Wijesekara, J.S."

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Reading Disabilities (Dyslexia) and Difficulties as a Learning Problem: A Psycholinguistic Study
(Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Wijesekara, J.S.
'Reading' is a creative ability and it is a complex cognitive process relating to brain-cells with the functions of visual system or tactile. Knowledge on symbols in a language and semantic interpretation of those symbols are important in reading process. The first stage of reading is understanding sequences of symbols and the second stage is the semantic interpretation of them. Those two categories on reading are noticed by different symptoms, but they look normal and intelligent. Though some literature on reading problems in English language are available, no successful research has come out on reading texts in Sinhala language. Being a symbolic system, Sinhala symbols are different from English symbols as it has a phonetic symbolic system. Therefore, the research problem focuses on identification of linguistic problems on reading difficulties and dyslexia and finding the methods that can be applied to solve those problems. Therefore, (a) identifying those two categories of children and finding out what reading problems that they face and (b) introducing alternative methods for reading for the children who are severely disabled in reading are the objectives of this research. The hypothesis of this research, if the memory of phonemic symbols can be improved, it will be easy to avoid these conditions or if it is difficult, an alternative method could be identified to improve their education. twenty school children from each category from grade 6 to 10 will be selected by a test and some specific teaching methods will be applied to improve their reading ability. At the same time the questionnaires will be given to the teachers and the parents to gather knowledge and the background details of those children. This research is limited only to the children who read Sinhala. This research will be important for the students to upgrade their education and for the therapists and educationists to employ these results for their purposes.
A Socio-Psycholinguistic Study on Taboo Words in Sinhala Community.
(The Third International Conference on Linguistics in Sri Lanka, ICLSL 2017. Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Aberathne, U.; Wijesekara, J.S.
Taboo words are defined as the substandard words, which are not usually tolerated in formal discourses. Therefore they are not used in standard writings or in public spheres." Taboo words are used to communicate ideas in some sub cultures as well as among intimates. Present, some people utter taboo words at official meetings and people in higher and lower societies in some contexts. Considering conflict of two different languages, some words are seen as taboo words in other languages. The objectives of this research are to enumerate what situations that people are controlled by taboo words and what situations that makes problems and what the psychological reality for these conditions. This study has been limited to impermissible taboo words used by people. Through observations, interviews and administering questionnaires to male and female subjects, data were gathered. Further, the collected data was classified according to the situational factors, and psychological factors and different age levels, social status, gender were concerned under those factors. In addition, it was concerned how ethnic conflict affect taboo words and how people behave at those situations by observations and using questionnaires. Family background affects using taboo words as a habit of some people and mostly people use them after adolesons stage especially males. Women who live in prison, shanties and in the prostitute's society often use taboo words as a habit. Taboo words are used to show the power and make people afraid, people who are in angry situations and just to be enjoyed. Some misunderstanding problems are appeared in the ethnic conflict situations. In concluding all the above, a vast majority do not accept using taboo words to communicate within the society for any matter. This investigation presents insight on the psychological underpinnings and psychosocial behaviour of those who use taboo words. This is also only a variety of a language, which is acceptable, or not.
Typological characteristics of Angami language
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2013) Wijesekara, J.S.