Comparison of Some Sri Lankan Usage Patterns With International Usage
Some Sri Lankans closely follow the international - more often British - norms in usage. However, the patterns given below are often found, albeit to varying degrees, among Sri Lankan English speakers.
- in vain
My brother has extra tickets. We bought tickets in vain.
My brother has extra tickets. It’s a shame (that) we bought tickets too. (We shouldn’t have bought tickets.)
The manual is in German. In vain. / In vain we bought this gadget in Germany.
The manual is in German. What a shame. / It’s a shame (that) we bought this gadget in Germany.
- for lies
Don’t shout for lies. Don’t shout in vain.
He said it for lies. He said it as a joke.
She is crying for lies. She is pretending to cry.
- keep
The verb 'keep' is sometimes used in SLE in the same sense as 'put' or 'place'.
Keep it on the table. Put it on the table.
Keep it in the cupboard. Put it in / into the cupboard.
- too much
That child is too much. That child is quite naughty / mischievous.
This salesman is too much. This salesman is really pushy.
That girl is too much. That girl is too forward.
- small small things
'small small things' ' various small things' / 'many small things' / 'several small things'
'different different problems' 'various problems' / 'many different problem' / 'several different problems'
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- In international usage, an adjective is sometimes repeated to have an intensifying effect.
I saw her long, long ago.
- fully worth
'It's fully worth', 'Fully worth' 'It's good/excellent value', 'It was good/excellent value'
- get down from the bus
'get down from the bus / train / car...', 'get off the car / van...' 'get off the bus / train / motorcycle...', 'get out of the car / van...'
- get him/her/them down
'We must get him/her/them down' 'We must invite him/her/them (over)'
- play out
They played me out. They cheated me / deceived me / conned me (informal usage) / took me for a ride (informal usage).
- ask from him
Ask from him. Ask him.
I want to ask a question from her. I want to ask her a question.
- The repetition of 'also' when several people do the same thing
Nimal also is there, Mala also is there. Both Nimal and Mala are there. / Nimal and Mala are both there.
- Using 'even' after the word or phrase it refers to
They are open on Sundays even. / On Sundays even, they are open. They are open even on Sundays.
He didn’t call even. He didn’t even call.
She didn’t open the letter even. She didn’t even open the letter.
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- In international usage, 'even' is sometimes placed after the term it is associated with when something more precise is added.
Their home was large, even huge / huge even.
- Using 'have' to say that something is available
Do you have enough money with you? – Yes, have. Do you have enough money with you? – Yes, I do.
Have enough petrol? – Yes, have. Is there enough petrol / gasoline ? – Yes, there is.
- Overuse of 'put', i.e. in instances where other words are found in international usage
‘put a wash’ ‘take / have a wash'
‘put a walk’ ‘take / have a walk’
‘put a nap’ ‘take / have a nap
‘put a look’ ‘have / take a look’
‘put a chat’ ‘have a chat’
‘put a complaint’ ‘make a complaint’
‘put a drink’ ‘have a drink’
- Different word order in sentences with 'only'
Yesterday only they came. They only came yesterday. / They came only yesterday. / It was only yesterday that they came.
Then only they saw the thief. They only saw the thief then. / They saw the thief only then. / It was only then that they saw the thief. / Only then did they see the thief.
Only in Sri Lanka you find it. You only find it in Sri Lanka. / You find it only in Sri Lanka. / It is only in Sri Lanka that you find it. / Only in Sri Lanka do you find it.
Only if you go there you will meet her. You will meet her only if you go there. / Only if you go there will you meet her.
- Inverted word order found sometimes in questions
Why they are here? Why are they here?
Why you wanted to talk to him? Why did you want to talk to him?
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- Or the opposite of it sometimes in reported speech
My wife asked where was the daughter. My wife asked where the daughter was.
Ask her when will she come. Ask her when she will come.
Ask her what is her email address. Ask her what her email address is.
- Wrong use of tenses in the third conditional
If you came here yesterday, you could meet her. If you had come here yesterday, you could have met her.
- The use of the past perfect to convey third-party information
The robbers had come in a van. The robbers have come in a van, they say. / They say (that) the robbers have come in a van. / It is said that the robbers have come in a van. / The robbers are supposed to have come in a van. (Or, if suitable,) It was reported that the robbers had come in a van.
Read more about this topic: Sri Lankan English
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