 Lexicography
is his forte
The modern world uses two words: develop
ment and communication, which are interdependent. Development generates
new interests and broadens capabilities while communication bridges the
gap. The indispensable tool of communication is language, which is ever
changing. This is a challenge that has to be faced by all living languages
including Sinhala, which, in fact, has successfully tackled many a challenge
during its long history extending over 2500 years.
So writes Dr. Somapala Jayawardena in the preface to the Sinhala-English
dictionary edited by him. He explains that his dictionary has been done,
"to take account of contemporary Sinhala by including new words and
new meanings of old words."
It gives English equivalents of many technical terms of recent origin
found in Sinhala translations on science and technology.
This is one of several dictionaries that Dr Jayawardena has compiled
at the request of Deshamanya Sirisumana Godage, the publisher who has,
for the past two decades, published the largest number of titles in any
given year. The English - Sinhala dictionary compiled by him came out in
print just a few months back. It has over 45,000 entries with about 60
percent of the core of the English language being found in it.
In addition, he has included other useful information including common
abbreviations, administrative divisions of the Sinhalese kingdom, Roman
numerals, common numerals of Sanskrit origin, Sinhalese months and Sinhalese
measure of time.
A Dictionary of Sinhala Synonyms (and Antonyms ) is also among Dr. Jayawardena's
publications. He has also compiled an English - Sinhala School Dictionary.
Dr. Jayawardena has been a prolific writer in Sinhala during the past
three decades. His publications include six works on Buddhist history and
archaeology, six on Sinhala grammar and allied subjects, two on psychology,
two anthologies of short stories, five children's books, six dictionaries
and two miscellaneous works.
He has been chief editor for several translations and has a host of
research papers both in Sinhala and English to his credit. Among his English
publications are a handbook of Pali Literature, Ruins of Sri Lanka, Mulgirigala,
and History of Maduru Oya.
The earliest dictionary
A Greek lexicon called Homeric Words has been accepted as the earliest
dictionary in the western world. It was written by Apollonius, a sophist
by profession, in the time of Augustus (27B. C. - 14 A. C. )
The compilation of lexicons or dictionaries in India dates back to the
5th century B. C. when the famous Vedic lexicon, Nirukta was compiled by
the great linguist Yaska.
According to late Professor S. G. M.Weerasinghe, the art of lexicography
developed from the mere explanation of hard words by means of simple ones
in the same language to the preparation of elaborate lists alphabetically
arranged.
Kavata Pattara - devoted to humour
The Sinhala press has had its fair share of newspapers devoted to humour.
The first came out in 1872. Titled Kavata Kathikaya , it was edited
by Pelis Appuhamy, a pioneer in this style of journalism.
The 1930s saw a number of newspapers of the same style being published.
Within two years five appeared. Abhinawa Kavata Kathikaya, Kavat Basa and
Kawata Menika came out in 1930 followed by Kavata Mitrya and Kavata Seeya
in the following year. In 1932, there was yet another - Sinhala Kavataya
and the next was in 1934 - Kavata Duthaya .
Researcher Sandagomi Copparahewa says that none of these titles came
to the standard of pioneer Pelis Appuhami's Kavata Kathikaya.
They helped to popularise the newspaper reading habit but sometimes
failed in their mission due to the use of these publications to criticise
one another.
|
