Comments on: A-Z of Sri Lankan English: U is for up https://groundviews.org/2012/08/27/a-z-of-sri-lankan-english-u-is-for-up/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-z-of-sri-lankan-english-u-is-for-up Journalism for Citizens Wed, 30 Jan 2013 04:26:31 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.1 By: Thilak Gunaratne https://groundviews.org/2012/08/27/a-z-of-sri-lankan-english-u-is-for-up/#comment-50520 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 04:26:31 +0000 http://groundviews.org/?p=10073#comment-50520 Leaving out the second word of many phrasal verbs in both spoken and written English by many ‘yuppies’ in Sr Lanka even when they communicate in Sinhala has reached a point of nuisance. In a certain popular Sinhalese teledrama some months ago, it’s was too very common to for ‘hero’ to say to the heroin, ‘OK, I’ll pick you tomorrow.’

Unfortunately, such stupid utterances only lead to corrupting the ambitious rural youth eager to learn some good English. Anyway, it is a relief to know that the so-called “English Our Way” has been abandoned by the very fellas who wanted to promote it.

Thilak Gunaratne

]]> By: Asanga Welikala https://groundviews.org/2012/08/27/a-z-of-sri-lankan-english-u-is-for-up/#comment-48153 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 08:10:17 +0000 http://groundviews.org/?p=10073#comment-48153 In reply to Patrio.

For the record, I am a fan of SLE (as discussed and defined by Michael Meyler previously), not only because of its contribution to the pluralism of the English language, but also because it is one of the most endearing things about Sri Lanka. It is also the medium of a rich tradition of Sri Lankan humour and wordplay, and it is wonderful to see this tradition started by people like E.M.W. Joseph and Tarzie Vittachi continuing in the present generation: see http://www.youtube.com/user/jehanr

]]> By: Patrio https://groundviews.org/2012/08/27/a-z-of-sri-lankan-english-u-is-for-up/#comment-48139 Wed, 29 Aug 2012 01:15:30 +0000 http://groundviews.org/?p=10073#comment-48139 In reply to Asanga Welikala.

Good one Asanga Welikala. [Edited out] Sri Lankan Singlish fans. Either try and write and speak good gramatical English or just give up.

]]> By: Asanga Welikala https://groundviews.org/2012/08/27/a-z-of-sri-lankan-english-u-is-for-up/#comment-48079 Mon, 27 Aug 2012 03:24:00 +0000 http://groundviews.org/?p=10073#comment-48079 On a related note, I was struck by the gravity-defying potential of these two phrases used by the pseudonymous political columnist, Vishnuguptha, in yesterday’s newspapers: “The country is currently caught up in this vortex” and “…caught up in this whirlpool.” (Ceylon Today, 26th August 2012) Can one get caught ‘up’ in something that is going down?

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