Sri Lanka, Jan. 25 -- Regarding a separate variety of English, Kelaniya University English Emeritus Professor, D C R A Goonetilleke pointed out that English in Sri Lanka has not evolved to the required stage to be declared as a standard language.
He observed that English in Sri Lanka cannot be traced back to the era of Robert Knox or to the arrival of British in 1796. "It is wrong to say that it has an ancient history and is a native language in Sri Lanka." He pointed out that it should be traced back to a period when there was a community of speakers of the so-called Sri Lankan English. This is of recent origin. He was also of the view that giving special emphasis to a Sri Lankan way of speaking English is not needed. "It is not an issue. Our people speak naturally in the 'Sri Lankan way' anyway."
He also pointed out that it is dangerous to teach spoken English in one style while teaching to write in a different way. It is an international variety of English that we should promote in the country both in speech and writing. It is with this variety that our people can have the access to books and knowledge stored in the Internet, and improve their educational and employment prospects.
He was also of the view that promoting Sri Lankan English would actually widen the gap between the underprivileged and privileged. "The concept of Kaduwa (Sword) will be redefined.
Privileged people will learn an international variety of English and will maintain their higher position in society, permanently. The underprivileged who learn a local variety of English will be further disempowered. The benefit will be for the elites.
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