5. The interface of language, literature and politics in Sri Lanka
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D.C.R.A. Goonetilleke
Abstract
During colonial times, the English language occupied a dominant position, but the colonial educational system was not a mass or egalitarian system. The presence of the colonial masters had a suffocating effect on the creative energies of the local inhabitants and literature in English emerges paradoxically from the growth of nationalist currents. In its early phase, this literature can be termed mimicry. The potential insurgency of mimicry is evident in an adoption of an indigenous identity at times. When writers began to feel nationalist currents keenly, their central problem was reconciling their own sensibility, indigenous traditions and realities, on the one hand, and Western literary and other traditions and influences, on the other. Once this clash of cultures phase was over, the poets wrote out of their personal situations. For some writers, the choice or adoption of English was a major problem, while it was not so for others. But both groups had to adapt English to express realities alien to it and convey their own indigenous spirit. We have now moved beyond the ‘Prospero-Caliban syndrome’.
Abstract
During colonial times, the English language occupied a dominant position, but the colonial educational system was not a mass or egalitarian system. The presence of the colonial masters had a suffocating effect on the creative energies of the local inhabitants and literature in English emerges paradoxically from the growth of nationalist currents. In its early phase, this literature can be termed mimicry. The potential insurgency of mimicry is evident in an adoption of an indigenous identity at times. When writers began to feel nationalist currents keenly, their central problem was reconciling their own sensibility, indigenous traditions and realities, on the one hand, and Western literary and other traditions and influences, on the other. Once this clash of cultures phase was over, the poets wrote out of their personal situations. For some writers, the choice or adoption of English was a major problem, while it was not so for others. But both groups had to adapt English to express realities alien to it and convey their own indigenous spirit. We have now moved beyond the ‘Prospero-Caliban syndrome’.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- 1. Language policies, language ideologies and local language practices 1
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Part I. South Asia
- 2. The politics of Hinglish 21
- 3. Globalization and multilingualism 37
- 4. Kaduva of privileged power, instrument of rural empowerment? 61
- 5. The interface of language, literature and politics in Sri Lanka 81
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Part II. Southeast Asia
- 6. Governing English in Singapore 105
- 7. Uncertain locale 125
- 8. The encroachment of English in Malaysian cultural expression 145
- 9. “They think speaking in English isn’t good, you know” 167
- 10. The grip of English and Philippine language policy 187
- 11. Nimble tongues 205
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Part III. Asia Pacific
- 12. English vs. English conversation 227
- 13. Language policy and practice in English loanwords in Japanese 249
- 14. English speakers in Korea 269
- 15. English, class and neoliberalism in South Korea 287
- 16. Conclusion 303
- Contributors 317
- Index 321
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- 1. Language policies, language ideologies and local language practices 1
-
Part I. South Asia
- 2. The politics of Hinglish 21
- 3. Globalization and multilingualism 37
- 4. Kaduva of privileged power, instrument of rural empowerment? 61
- 5. The interface of language, literature and politics in Sri Lanka 81
-
Part II. Southeast Asia
- 6. Governing English in Singapore 105
- 7. Uncertain locale 125
- 8. The encroachment of English in Malaysian cultural expression 145
- 9. “They think speaking in English isn’t good, you know” 167
- 10. The grip of English and Philippine language policy 187
- 11. Nimble tongues 205
-
Part III. Asia Pacific
- 12. English vs. English conversation 227
- 13. Language policy and practice in English loanwords in Japanese 249
- 14. English speakers in Korea 269
- 15. English, class and neoliberalism in South Korea 287
- 16. Conclusion 303
- Contributors 317
- Index 321
