Abstract

The commercial Sinhala-medium FM radio practice of code-mixing between Sinhala and English is criticised by some of the mainstream Sinhala-speaking groups of Sri Lanka as unrestrained and thus causing the degeneration of the native language of Sinhala. Regardless of this disapproval, this new style of code-mixing has now spread into the FM media audiences, particularly its youth groups, among whom it is a daily linguistic reality. A previous study explored the nature of this new mode of code-mixing set off against conventional code-mixing of Sinhala-English bilinguals of the country. The present paper makes an attempt to consolidate the findings of the study through a combination of theories, one which explores the Extra Linguistic Power ascribed to some languages or language varieties while marginalising others, and the other on Language as Resistance. Quantitative tools were employed to compare the linguistic features of FM code-mixing and conventional bilingual code-mixing. A qualitative description is provided of the way these differences are perceived by the relevant groups. Thus, the study presumes to communicate important information about the motives and driving forces behind language standards, media agendas, audiences and the dynamics of language policies and practices in Sri Lanka.

摘要

斯里兰卡的一些主流讲僧伽罗语的团体批评说，僧伽罗语和英语之间的代码混合的商业僧伽罗语中频调频广播做法不受限制，从而导致了僧伽罗语的母语退化。不管有多么不赞成，这种新的代码混合样式现在已经传播到FM媒体受众中，尤其是它的青年群体，在他们当中，这已成为日常的语言现实。先前的研究探索了这种新的代码混合模式的本质，该模式与该国的僧伽罗语-英语双语者的常规代码混合起了冲突。本文试图通过多种理论来合并研究结果，其中一种理论探讨了归因于某些语言或语言变体而将其他语言边缘化的额外语言能力，另一个是关于语言的抵抗。使用定量工具比较FM代码混合和常规双语代码混合的语言特征。定性描述了相关群体对这些差异的理解方式。因此，该研究假定要传达有关语言标准背后的动机和驱动力，媒体议程，受众以及斯里兰卡语言政策和实践动态的重要信息。