Sri Lanka’s constitution acknowledges that English is the country’s unifying language, while Sinhala and Tamil are both official and national tongues. On the one hand, the English tuition classes and international schools that have mushroomed across the country are indicative of an insatiable desire to learn English.
Contents
How English is used in Sri Lanka?
English is the third language of Sri Lanka after Sinhala and Tamil, and is spoken as a first language by a small but significant minority of the population – significant not so much for their numbers, but because they tend to belong to the Colombo elite, and therefore to be prominent in the social, political,
Who uses English in Sri Lanka?
English in Sri Lanka is fluently spoken by approximately 23.8% of the population, and widely used for official and commercial purposes. It is the native language of approximately 74,000 people, mainly in urban areas. A handful of the 3,400 people of Portuguese descent speak Sri Lankan Portuguese creole.
What is the status of English in Sri Lanka today?
Additionally, 15% of Sri Lankans speak the link language of English. The English speaking ability is considered higher among the urban people compared to the rural people where nearly 32.9% of the urban residents speak English and 34.1% are able read and write.
Is English an official language of Sri Lanka?
Official Language.
(1)[1] The Official Language of Sri Lanka shall be Sinhala. (2) Tamil shall also be an official language. (3) English shall be the link language.
Why is English speaking important?
Speaking English allows you to actually broaden your world, from job opportunities to the ability to relate to people from every country. Knowing the language makes it much more interesting every trip.Education is very important to improve yourself but learning English also improves the quality of life.
Why is English importance?
1. English is the Language of International Communication. Although English is not the most spoken language in the world, it is the official language in 53 countries and is spoken as a first language by around 400 million people worldwide. But that’s not all, it is also the most common second language in the world.
When did English language become the link language of Sri Lanka?
English was given priority until Sri Lanka regained its independence in 1948. The Sinhala Only Act (1956) and reversed Act of 1958 reduced the role of English as an official language and allowed for the proliferation of schools in Sinhala and Tamil.
Which language was Recognised as the official language after independence in Sri Lanka?
In 1956, the Official Language Act No. 33 declared Sinhala as the only official language, replacing English which had been imposed under British colonial rule.
What language is majority of Sri Lankans?
Sinhala
Sinhala is the native language of the Sinhalese people, who constitute approximately 70 percent of Sri Lanka’s population, which equals approximately 13 million people. Sinhala is also spoken among other ethnic groups on the island as a second language, making it the most widely spoken language in Sri Lanka.
What are the difficulties of rural students in speaking English language?
Although most of the students think that they have good level of English vocabulary and grammar, they are insecure while speaking English. Most of the problems were (1) Fear of making mistakes (2) Feeling shy (3) Feeling hesitated (4) lack of confidence while speaking English.
Does Sri Lanka use British English?
Sri Lankan English (SLE) is the English language as it is used in Sri Lanka, a term dating from 1972. The British colonial presence in South Asia led to the introduction of English to Sri Lanka.Since 1681, some words have been borrowed from Sinhala and Tamil by English.
Do people in Sri Lanka speak French?
French ranks among the ten most spoken languages in the world, with around 220 millions French-speaking people and 116 millions students learning it. In Sri Lanka, French is today, after English, the first foreign language taught in schools, both national and international.
What is the first language in Sri Lanka?
Sinhala
Sinhala language
| Sinhala | |
|---|---|
| සිංහල Siṁhala | |
| Pronunciation | IPA: [ˈsiŋɦələ] |
| Native to | Sri Lanka |
| Ethnicity | Sinhalese people |
What is the role of speaking in language learning?
Essentially, speaking a language helps to move your knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation from the back of your mind to the front, or from your ‘slow memory’ to your ‘quick memory. ‘ Given time, this will improve your fluency and memory too.
Why do people learn English?
English is the most used and spoken language around the world. At least one out of 5 people can speak or understand English!Learning English will increase your chances to get a job, participate in discussions, and improve your networking skills. English helps you increase your educational opportunities.
Why English is an international language?
This is because English is the world’s lingua franca or common second language, as this table shows. English is the international language of business, commerce, science, medicine,and many other key areas. Even in diplomacy, where French once ruled supreme, English is now dominant in most regions of the world.
What is English used for?
English is the world’s most widely used language in newspaper publishing, book publishing, international telecommunications, scientific publishing, international trade, mass entertainment, and diplomacy.
Why is English important in tourism?
English is one of the most spoken languages in the world and no matter where in the world you find employment, you will encounter English-speaking customers. Especially for hotel staff, speaking in clear English is important because the way you communicate makes a big difference to how comfortable visitors feel.
Why English is important in job?
Enhanced communication skills in English can result to not only an improved social life, but also better job opportunities in the future. From job interviews to the actual professional world, communication skills are very crucial, and being proficient in English means being able to communicate clearly and effectively.
How English is a link language?
English has become a link language in the real sense of the term.English has become part of life for many Indians, and many can speak fluently and idiomatically like native speakers. For the younger generation it has become the passport to success and prosperity.
