Browsing by Author "de Silva, W.T.C.J."

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Causes for the Sinhala Spelling Errors and Mistakes: A Study Based on the Students Reading Translation Methods at University of Kelaniya
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) de Silva, W.T.C.J.
Spelling means the order of letters followed in writing a word. Every language has its own spelling patterns and it is of paramount importance to follow them in order to use the language accurately. This paper is an attempt to identify the main causes behind the Sinhala spelling errors and mistakes and the study is based on the students reading translation methods at University of Kelaniya. The Translation Methods subject read by the students of University of Kelaniya consists of three languages, namely Sinhala, English and Tamil. Therefore, the students necessarily deal with all these three languages and translating from English to Sinhala is one of their main tasks. The Sinhala translations written by the students have been utilized in this study as the material to gather data. The incorrect spellings in their writings were identified and pointed out in feedback and discussion sessions and they were questioned regarding the reasons behind using them. Based on their answers, causes for the spelling errors and mistakes have been identified. Accordingly, it has been discovered that the impact of the incorrect spellings and mutant words appearing in common usage, public media, dictionaries and the confusion resulted by the different spelling patterns practiced in different traditions and their complexity are among the main causes.
Imitation as a Method of Translation: A Study Based on Selected Sinhalese Poems Inspired by Wordsworthian Poetry
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) de Silva, W.T.C.J.; Galapatha, G.R.Y.
Translation is defined as the process of converting words or text from one language into another. In the preface to his translation of ‘Ovid’s Epistles’ (1680), John Dryden, the first major English theorist in translation, points out three ways of translation, namely metaphrase, paraphrase and imitation. According to this tripartite classification, in both metaphrase and paraphrase, a translator is not permitted to make any changes. The freedom of making changes is available only in imitation. It is where the translators get the opportunity to make use of their creativity. One of the paramount features of the poetry of the Second Generation in Colombo Era of Sinhalese Poetry is that being influenced from Romantic poets like Wordsworth, Shelly, Keats..etc. H.M.Kudaligama and Meemana Premathilake were among the poets who were influenced by the work of such Romantic poets. This study is based on selected Sinhalese poems of this era which have been influenced by Wordsworthian poetry. The findings of this study point out that even though they are not pure replicas of their originals, those poems can rather be called ‘imitations’, a type of translation. Therefore, it is justifiable to state that work of literature, specially poems, which have the influence of other pieces of work can be called translations in which only some general hints have been taken from the original. As Dryden pointed out, it is also of high probability that the translator will not be called a translator anymore due to the amount of changes he does to the ground work.
Methods Followed in Translating Drama Songs
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) de Silva, W.T.C.J.
A drama is a composition in verse or prose intended to portray life or character or to tell a story usually involving conflicts and emotions through action and dialogue. It is typically designed for theatrical performance. Songs are one of the key features of a drama. They are sung either by the characters or by the singers. When it comes to translating dramatic texts, translating the songs affecting the target audience in the same way as the originals may be supposed to have affected its audience is of paramount importance. The aim of this study has been to identify methods followed in translating drama songs. Selected dramatic texts containing songs and their Sinhalese translations have been used as the primary sources and the songs in the originals and their translations have been compared in order to identify the methods. Literal translation or metaphrase in which the original is directly converted into the target language has been avoided. Sense-for-sense translation is the most common methodology identified. Adapting, adding and omitting certain elements can be seen under this. Structural changes can also be seen in this. It appears that such minor changed are required in order to maintain the sense of the original and to make it more comprehensible to the target audience. Replacing the original song with an existing target language song and adding a song into a dialog which does not contain a song in the original text are the other methods identified.
Some Observations on Personifying Inanimate Nouns in Sinhalese Language
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) de Silva, W.T.C.J.
In Sinhalese language, personifying inanimate nouns is considered a device required in poetry in order to maintain the poetic quality of the language. However, this device has been used in both poetic and non-poetic works in classical Sinhalese literature. In the contemporary Sinhalese language, this device has gone beyond works of literature and such personified nouns can be seen in the everyday discourse of the language as well. In classical literature, personified plurals have been used in both direct and indirect cases even though it is restricted to the indirect cases in the contemporary usage. Personification can mostly be seen in Sanskrit Borrowings ending with zhZ which require some device in order to distinguish the plural from the singular in natural speech. It is apparent that a limited number of pure Sinhalese nouns are also being affected by this device. Another paramount feature apparent in this usage in the contemporary language is that the inanimate nouns are personified mostly in order to form the plurals even though distinctive plural forms exist. In Sinhalese, the root of an inanimate singular noun is mostly used as its plural form. However, as a result of the overuse of personified inanimate nouns, the formal value of the regular plurals is reduced or nullified and the personified plurals have gained currency as their lone plural forms.