Book review:

English for Sinhala students

Title: Sinhala Apata Ingreesi (English For Us)

Author: Sita Kulatunga

Publisher: Nipuna Poth Samajaya

My admiration for Sita Kulathunga first began with the way she had spelt her name. You don't have to drag your voice to pronounce her name. Just Sita.

Among Sri Lankan lady writers, Sita reserves a special forte despite the fact that we do not hear her name quite often. She is known for her skills in translations from Sinhala to English. Translating from Sinhala to English is a task only a few undertake mainly for two reasons.

One fact is that English translations of Sinhala works do not enjoy a good market. The other fact is that only a few have a sound knowledge of English to translate Sinhala works. The appendix of a small dictionary giving out the meanings of English words is important. However may I add that the book would have been even better had it had a dictionary that gives the English words to Sinhala words. Especially since this is a book that teaches English in Sinhala. Sinhala students need to know how to express their heartfelt emotions in English. Such a dictionary would have been wonderful in this instance. Another interesting fact is that the book has a separate section for common errors. In English common errors are common as the term suggests. So just like idioms and phrasal verbs, lexicographers have taken effort to compile dictionaries of common errors too.

English was just another feature when we were schooling and entering the university. But then it became a tool. Now we are witnessing a period when English knowledge is considered superior. English has to be learnt the hard way.

In this context Kulatunga's work is really outshining. This is a period when everyone has taken the job of teaching English. It is a lucrative job, as most people need to learn English.

The qualified teachers should come to the fore to alleviate this tragedy. Kulatunga’s work, therefore, is an answer to specifically Sri Lankan needs. It approaches these from the home ground of the Sinhalese learners.

It is also an accurate and comprehensive guide to English teachers as well.

- Professor - Amal Jayasinghe