Launch of 27th issue of Sinhala Dictionary:

Language nation's main identity - Prof

Priyanka KURUGALA

The creation of a dictionary is important for the continuation of the nation. Language is the main identity of a nation, Sinhala Dictionary former Editor in Charge Prof Wimal G Balagale said.

He was speaking at the launching of the 27th issue of the Sinhala Dictionary recently.

"Our children are taught that the Dictionary is a European innovation. Nevertheless the Sinhala people had another system of dictionary named Nigantu. It gives a list of words similar to a given word. Nigantu had been done in the form of poetry. This system is very important in the creation of poetry," he said.

During the British period most people wanted to stop the publication of the Sinhala dictionary. One had even suggested that the Sinhala characters should be written in Roman, Prof Balagale said.

Sinhala Dictionary Editor in Chief Prof Ananda Abeysiriwardana said that creating a dictionary is a national task.

It shows the national identity of a nation.

The Sinhala language is misused frequently. This is due to the incorrect use of the language by the electronic media and print media. The electronic media uses wrong grammar when using the Sinhala language, he said.

Language is the most important commodity discovered by human being. It creates literature. Literature depends on the emotional and intellectual use of the language. On the other hand the language is the vehicle of culture, he said. The creation of Sinhala Dictionary commenced in 1928. It was commenced with two parts. One is the creation of the Sinhala -Sinhala Dictionary. The other one is the creation of Sinhala-English dictionary.

This project was handed over to the Royal Asiatic Society in 1937. The Royal Asiatic Society handed over this implementation to the Lanka University in 1942.

It was entrusted to the Cultural Affairs Ministry in 1972. Up to now creating the Sinhala Dictionary is implemented under the guidance of the Ministry, Prof Abeysiriwardana said. Proof reading of the Sinhala-Tamil Dictionary has commenced. Due to the lack of workers it is being read by outsiders, he said.