Junior Research Symposia

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Language Planning Situations in Sri Lanka and Singapore: A Comparative Study
(Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Kamali, R.D.
Language planning can be defined as a deliberate attempt to change the linguistics behaviour of a speech community for a particular reason. It is often associated with the government planning. It can be initiated to push a certain language towards a stipulated goal. The recognition of two or more official languages can largely be attributed to a scenario stemming out of a socio-political dilemma. Therefore, decisions on language policy and planning are made around the globe every day to create the much needed harmony within their countries. Especially, in multilingual countries, it is becoming more and more essential to have a well-planned language policy. To date, around 200 countries in the world recognise two or more official languages. This study focuses on the language policy in Sri Lanka and Singapore with particulars emphasis on the historical, political and social changes in language policy decisions and the present situation of their language policies as multi-lingual countries in the Asian region. After a general account of the language profile of Sri Lanka and Singapore, this research examines the status planning in both countries since they became independent countries. Finally, it discusses some important recent developments in language planning in both countries and how they constructed the ethnic harmony through language planning and is their language planning, a success or a failure. As the methodology both primary and secondary data were collected by referring official documents, constitution of both countries and other subject related sources. This study demonstrates the linguistic, political and ethnic characters of language planning in two multi-lingual countries.
The Lack of Corpus Planning in the Language Policy of Multilingual South Africa
(Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Jayawardhana, J.M.W.H.; Dhaneshika, K.M.
Language planning is deliberate effort to influence the function, structure, or acquisition of languages or language variety within a speech community. The purpose of the paper to examine the language planning situation in South Africa, where language has been used in both status and corpus planning as an instrument in the periods of colonialism to apartheid to democracy. Data for the research are collected by using articles in Google web sites, academic researches regarding the language policy of South Africa. This research mainly focuses the following points such as; background and languages of South Africa, how is the language planning implemented in the case of South Africa and how does the country face to challenge of selecting an official language with the effects at multilingualism. South Africa offers particularly interesting context to explore language shift in the post- apartheid era, II languages have been granted official status in South Africa. The problem discusses here is the need of well organised status planning which ensured with properly developed corpus planning. In conclusion, the discourse used in the policy reflects conflicting ideologies emanating from the history of this country and illuminates the politics that led to the formation of a democratic state in South Africa. Consideration of multilingualism in language discussion that led to the formation of current language policy. Corpus planning will address a need for local and global as a solution to challenge of global technology and modernisation. Creating language teaching resources is one ofthe major step in corpus planning, language planning development and policy implementation. Therefore through this paper it highlights that even though the status planning of South Africa shows successful features it has a shortage of well- planned corpus planning.
The contribution of Kumaratunga Munidasa as an individual language planner
(Faculty of Humanities, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Randula, K.K.G.
Language planning refers to deliberate and systematic attempts taken to solve the language problems of a speech community. Usually such measures in standardising a language’s structure and determining its political status are taken by a country’s political authority. Cumaratunga Munidasa (25th July 1887 - 02nd March 1944) was one of the greatest classical Sinhalese scholars of the 20th century, whose service to the Sinhalese language has been subjected to extensive studies in various disciplines. It has been observed that certain acts of Cumaratunga Munidasa reflect the features of a corpus planner, while his impact on promoting the Sinhalese language to the official language status has been of extreme significance. Since Cumaratunga’s contribution has not been substantially evaluated in the perspective of language planning, this study attempts to recognise Cumaratunga as an individual language planner. Data for the study were collected from writings of Cumaratunga ranging from paper articles to voluminous books. The language planning model proposed by E. Haugen (1983) was adapted in the evaluation process. In this study it has been observed that it is proper to recognise Cumaratunga Munidasa’s role in revitalising the Sinhalese language as the contribution of an individual language planner.

Junior Research Symposia

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