Interethnic Understanding and the Teaching of Local Languages in Sri Lanka

2013 ◽  
pp. 119-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Indika Liyanage ◽  
Suresh Canagarajah
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Local Languages

Comments on Nordhoff ’s “Establishing and Dating Sinhala Influence in Sri Lanka Malay”

2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Smith
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Language Acquisition ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Substrate Influence ◽  
Local Languages

Students of Sri Lanka Malay agree that the language has been heavily influenced by the local languages, Sinhala and Tamil. Differences arise over not only the degree and timing of such influence from each language, but also the extent to which the language developed through untutored second language acquisition (on the part of Tamil &/or Sinhala speakers) &/or intense bilingualism (on the part of Malay speakers). Nordhoff’s arguments for Sinhala influence are examined in the context of Thomason’s (2001) framework for establishing contact-induced change and found to be convincing for some features, but weaker or unconvincing in others. The argument for early Sinhala phonological influence is based on an unsurprising distribution and the mechanism of substrate influence (Siegel, 1998, 2008) which has not been shown to operate in the context of intense bilingualism. The linguistic differing consequences of untutored second language acquisition and intense bilingualism have not been thoroughly investigated, except on lexicon (Thomason and Kaufman, 1988). The Sinhalese component of Sri Lanka Malay lexicon stands at less than 1% (Paauw, 2004), a figure inconsistent with the claim of heavy Sinhala influence through intense bilingualism.

Multi-verb constructions in Sri Lanka Malay

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Nordhoff
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
South Asian ◽  
Verb Constructions ◽  
Serial Verbs ◽  
Motion Verb ◽  
Verb Serialization ◽  
Compound Verbs ◽  
Local Languages ◽  
Simple Combination

This paper investigates serial verbs and related constructions in Sri Lanka Malay and shows that at least four types have to be distinguished (Motion Verb Serialization, Vector Verb Serialization, Compound Verbs, Clause Chains). The constructions found are quite different from those found in Atlantic or Pacific Creoles. This is due to the different input languages: Two of the constructions can be traced to influence from the local languages Tamil and/or Sinhala; one is of Indonesian origin, and one is mixed. Sri Lanka Malay is thus not a simple combination of South Asian Grammar and Malay lexicon but also shows retentions of Malay grammar, as already demonstrated by Slomanson (2006). This recombination of features can only be explained with an account which acknowledges the possibility of grammatical contributions from all input languages, whether substrate, superstrate, or any other.

scholarly journals Adolescents' Perspective on Need of E-Health and M-Health Interventions for Establishing Healthy Lifestyles in Sri Lanka

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement 2) ◽  
pp. 16s-16s
Author(s):  
P.V.S.C. Vithana ◽  
C.J. Jayasundara ◽  
A.N.J. Barnasuriya ◽  
H.M.I. Handagiripathira ◽  
B.M.N.D. Batugedara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Mobile Apps ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Healthy Lifestyles ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Raising Awareness ◽  
Other Substances ◽  
Local Languages

Background: Adolescents accounts for 16% of Sri Lankan population of 20.4 million. Unhealthy lifestyles such as physical inactivity, unhealthy dietary habits, tobacco consumption, alcohol and other substance use are known risk factors for cancer and other noncommunicable diseases. Aim: Study assessed adolescents’ perception of the need, acceptability and suggestions on establishing healthy lifestyles among adolescents through e health and m health interventions using web-based platforms in Sri Lanka. Methods: Qualitative assessment using four focus group discussions (FGDs) among youth trainees of 15-19 years in Western Province of Sri Lanka in 2015. FGD guide was developed. Two facilitators conducted the discussions. Each focus group consisted of 9-10 trainees. Informed verbal-consent was obtained prior to the discussions. Privacy and confidentiality were ensured. Meetings were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed by identifying themes and categories using constant comparison. Results: All the trainees had a firm realization on the need of e health interventions including m health and Web-based platforms on adolescent health. FGDs revealed inadequacy skills and motivation on having healthy lifestyles among adolescents, lack of e sources with accurate information on healthy lifestyle and disease prevention in local languages and lack of awareness and motivation on available options for health promotion among adolescents. Suggested interventions were having adolescent health Website for promotion of healthy lifestyles in local languages, having interactive component incorporated into it, having computer games enabling healthy lifestyles, toll free hot lines and tele-medicine, raising awareness through social media and introduction of mobile apps on physical activity, healthy dietary habits and how to say no for tobacco, alcohol and other substances. They further highlighted to need of having mobile apps and Web based interventions for supporting cessations of tobacco, alcohol and other substances. They wanted to have free SMS and MMS services reminding them on healthy lifestyles, risk of cancer and other noncommunicable diseases due to unhealthy lifestyles and available services and facilities for having healthy lifestyles. Need of advertising about all available services for adolescents including e and m health interventions through targeting adolescents and youth in social media was pointed out. Need of adolescents participation in the whole process was highlighted. Conclusion: All the trainees perceived the need of having m health and e health interventions for establishing healthy lifestyles. Suggested interventions were: m health and e health interventions in adolescent friendly manner in all three languages, raising awareness on m and e health interventions, advertising on service availability, having hotlines and mobile apps and improving the quality of available services.

Abstract #604: Detection of Cardiovascular Risk Factors by Anthropometric Measures in Adults Living in an Urban Setting in Sri Lanka

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 114-115
Author(s):  
Kavinga Gunawardane ◽  
Noel Somasundaram ◽  
Neil Thalagala ◽  
Pubudu Chulasiri ◽  
Sudath Fernando
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽  
Urban Setting ◽  
Anthropometric Measures

Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation in Sri Lanka

Crisis ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudath Samaraweera ◽  
Athula Sumathipala ◽  
Sisira Siribaddana ◽  
S. Sivayogan ◽  
Dinesh Bhugra
Keyword(s):  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
General Population ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
National Average ◽  
The West ◽  
Suicide Methods ◽  
Suicide Rates ◽  
Completed Suicide ◽  
The World

Background: Suicidal ideation can often lead to suicide attempts and completed suicide. Studies have shown that Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world but so far no studies have looked at prevalence of suicidal ideation in a general population in Sri Lanka. Aims: We wanted to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation by randomly selecting six Divisional Secretariats (Dss) out of 17 in one district. This district is known to have higher than national average rates of suicide. Methods: 808 participants were interviewed using Sinhala versions of GHQ-30 and Beck’s Scale for Suicidal Ideation. Of these, 387 (48%) were males, and 421 (52%) were female. Results: On Beck’s Scale for Suicidal Ideation, 29 individuals (4%) had active suicidal ideation and 23 (3%) had passive suicidal ideation. The active suicidal ideators were young, physically ill and had higher levels of helplessness and hopelessness. Conclusions: The prevalence of suicidal ideation in Sri Lanka is lower than reported from the West and yet suicide rates are higher. Further work must explore cultural and religious factors.

Suicide on the Indian Subcontinent

Crisis ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 104-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murad M. Khan
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Interpersonal Relationship ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Important Public Health Problem ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Formidable Challenge ◽  
Causative Factors

Summary: The Indian subcontinent comprises eight countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, and the Maldives) and a collective population of more than 1.3 billion people. 10% of the world's suicides (more than 100,000 people) take place in just three of these countries, viz. India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. There is very little information on suicides from the other four countries. Some differences from suicides in Western countries include the high use of organophosphate insecticides, larger numbers of married women, fewer elderly subjects, and interpersonal relationship problems and life events as important causative factors. There is need for more and better information regarding suicide in the countries of the Indian subcontinent. In particular, studies must address culture-specific risk factors associated with suicide in these countries. The prevention of this important public health problem in an area of the world with myriad socio-economic problems, meager resources, and stigmatization of mental illness poses a formidable challenge to mental health professionals, policy makers, and governments of these countries.

Sri Lanka: Political violence and ethnic conflict.

1998 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 771-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Rogers ◽  
Jonathan Spencer ◽  
Jayadeva Uyangoda
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Political Violence ◽  
Ethnic Conflict

Emic Perspectives on the Impact of Armed Conflict on Children's Mental Health in Northern Sri Lanka

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wietse Tol ◽  
Fiona Thomas ◽  
Anavarathan Vallipuram ◽  
Sambasivamoorthy Sivayokan ◽  
Mark Jordans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Children’S Mental Health ◽  
Children's Mental Health ◽  
The Impact
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