Janins’ between Colombo and wherever blog

To pick up on my previous post. Here is an account of how the English language was administered in Sri Lanka from its removal to its reinstatement and then removal yet again.
We take up the story in 1971:

1971 - Youth Insurrection
A rebellion by the non English speaking youth of Sri Lanka.
Including a plan to burn the public libraries. Since the youth felt that the English books represented power and privilege, quite symbolic of the antagonistic attitude to English which remains till the present day.

Fast Forward——> 1983
The Jaffna public library burnt down…… History repeats itself.

1972
Sri Lanka is declared a republic. Sinhala remains the official language with Tamil as a national language.

1978 - New Consitution
Adopted by the government. Sinhala remains the official language. Tamil is "declared" to be an official language. Not much progress there except having a written constitution. Some "other" countries do not have a written constitution most notably the United Kingdom.

1987 Indo-Sri Lankan Accord
This was a peace accord officially signed on the 29th July 1987 by J.R.Jayewardena, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Rajiv Gandhi. Prime Minister of the Republic of India. The word "Socialist" in describing Sri Lanka shouldn’t be forgotten since there are more socialist leanings here than there are in India.
Typically the Sinhalese majority saw the signing of a peace accord as a "defeat," this was proven by the authorities declaring the day a day of mourning. Black flags where hung in Colombo and "mala batha" (funeral food) was served in boutiques.
In hindsight, I wonder why the majority weren’t celebrating peace? Is this the start of the pig headed nature? Which accounts for our current woes?
English is added to the other two official languages.

November 1987 - 13th Ammendment to constitution.
English has its status weakened to the "link" language. The official languages are as previous.

1997 - Education reforms.
English is introduced at Grade one in schools. While English medium instruction from Grade five permitted in schools with the "means to do so" (that’s if they can find any competent English teachers…..). The introduction of "General English" as an A - Level subject.

That’s my condensed version, hope my commentary helps to elucidate things.
For a more up to date version check this out
Please feel free to add any comments.

    From my observations of living here in Sri Lanka, a lot of the problems which keep reappearing on the heavyweight Mojo and ICT for whatever blog s. Where you need something akin to a doctorate to fully understand what is being discussed are related to the change in this islands national language.
    So here is a brief history of the English language here in Sri Lanka:

1796 - Treaty of Amiens
The British East India Company annexes the Maritime Provinces. English becomes the only official language.

1798
The Maritime Provinces are declared a British colony and the Ceylon Civil Service is established.

1799
Governor Frederick North establishes English Seminary for natives founded in Colombo on the 15 December 1799.

1815 - Kandyan Treaty
The fall of the Kandyan Kingdom heralds the takeover of the entire island by the British. The administration of the whole island is done in English.

1818 - Rebellion
The first revolt against English rule.

1848 - Kandyan Rebellion
Subaltern rebellion against English rule by the marginalised

1915 - Uprising
"Divide and rule" policy by the British results in bloodshed.

1948 - Dominion Status
Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) gains independence from Britain. English remains the only official language of independent Ceylon.

1956 - Official Languages Act
Sinhala. becomes the only official language of Sri Lanka. English is dethroned.

1956 and 1958
The Language riots to protest against the Sinhala only administration.

    That’s where in the time line this post ends, it could be said that a lot of what happened in 1956 accounts for a majority of our countries problems beyond those of the economic and environmental. Things get more violent after 1956 until the present day . More in my next post until then are the english a people or a language……. Where is the Caps Lock when you need it doh!
For 1970 to 1997 click here

 

One of the words which describe this blog is "Singlish". Why you ask did I pick this as a subject?
    Well to begin with a brief definition is needed :
Singlish is also associated with the English spoken in Singapore with its combination of the Chinese influence mixing with Tamil and English.

To this blog the above definition do’s not apply:
Since I am not in Singapore, and this blog is about Sri Lanka.

Instead, my definition of Singlish for this blog is :
The term used by Sri Lankans to refer to English with "Ceylonisms" or borrowing from other languages of Sri Lanka. As the term denotes, it is English influenced by the majority language, Sinhala.

    The other expression "Not Pot English" in the title refers to that spoken by those who are not familiar with English. Where the term "not pot cases" will refer to Sri Lankans who make mistakes when speaking English. The term is used exclusively to refer to Sri Lankans.

    Is it me but what tends to cut across both classes, race, caste and culture seem to be the fluent use of English; this seems to transcend such user to a different level in this country. Often, these same people call the "Not Pot English" users "yakkos" for an example of such usage refer to the comments section here A common expression is "How do you manage with those "yakkos "? Where the expression "yakkos " is a Sinhalese noun referring to "uncouth people or yokels "
    Sadly in what I believe to be a very language driven class society the belief is that such a poor English speaker to be an "unrefined person " Many could be dismissed as "yakko buggers " being not worthy of much.

    Interestingly the use of the word "buggers" as a second part of a double noun phrase means "fellow/s" and is not used in its original sexual context.

So that’s it for this post, but I must say I’m not pot over this Singlish……

For all you guys reading this who need something to put on (That’s my bit done for health and education at least for this month.)

The wrap in question in the title of this post was prompted to me a few months back in a post in Sumnas’ blog.

In the post he mentions:
"Q. Tell me about Sri Lankan Kandyan Sari

A. Well, I asked a girl I know about this. She said there are two ways to wear a Sari. Either the Indian style, or Kandyan way. According to her there are some small differences, to do with the ‘pota’ (the bit that is draped). I will tell you more as I get more information."

Which is where wrap in the title of this post comes from as a Sari consists of six yards (five and a half meters) of cloth, wrapped round the waist or hips, with pleats in front, and a "fall or pallu" thrown over the shoulder.
The word is of Indian origin and examples of it’s use are :
"Was she wearing sari?"
"Yes, and it had a beautiful pallu."
"The Brahmin sari is worn with the tail between the legs, like Granny"

On the subject of wearing things…. it’s the reason for the link at the start of this post.

The Kandyan sari is the style associated with the women of the Kandyan kingdom also called "osariya" in Sinhalese. It do’s not have any pleats and is worn with a frill at the waist and a pleated "fall or pallu"

There remains debate as to which sari Kandyan or Indian is the national sari of our country (Sri Lanka).

The half sari is called "lama sari" in Sinhalese and is a junior version of the sari. Little girls and young adults before they graduate to the grown up version of the sari wear the half sari.

Other versions of the sari include :

The Gujarati version: This version of draping, commonly known as the seedha pallu way, is also found in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar. Instead of opening to the left, the pleats are tucked so that they open to the right. Then, the pallu is taken to the back and brought over the right shoulder. It is then spread across the chest, and the left edge is tucked in the petticoat at the back.

The Maharashtra version: Instead of the usual five and a half meters, the sari in this version measures eight meters. One portion of the sari is drawn up between the legs and tucked in behind at the waist, while another portion is draped as a pallu over the bosom. Thus it forms a kind of divided sari, allowing greater freedom of movement.

The Tamilian way ( also known as the Brahmin sari ): Like the Maharashtra version, the sare in this version, too, measures eight meters. After wrapping around the waist, the pleats are positioned along the left leg. The rest of the sari is taken over the left shoulder, wrapped once again round the waist and tucked on the left side.

The Bengali version: The sari is worn pleatless; it is wrapped around the waist, brought back to the right side and the pallu is thrown over the left shoulder. The pallu is then brought up under the right arm and once again cast over the left shoulder.

So "thats a wrap" as they say in the movies and see ya next time.