An Investigation of Morphological Processes in Sri Lankan English; A Study Based on Selected YouTube Comment Sections

Abstract

British rule left a lasting impact on Sri Lanka with the introduction of English language. In addition, English was considered as the official language of the country under the British government. After gaining independence in 1948, Sri Lanka evolved into a multi-ethnic country which subsequently affected its vernacular languages, which are Sinhala and Tamil. English language in Sri Lankan context emerged as Sri Lankan English (SLE), a new variety representing diverse cultural and social factors of the country. SLE has undergone numerous word formation processes and developed into one of the most major varieties of the English language. In the present day, the frequent use of social media platforms like YouTube comment section has become a dynamic site for the morphological processes in SLE. The content creators utilize new SLE words to facilitate audience engagement. This research aims to investigate the productive and frequently used morphological processes of SLE in selected YouTube comment sections. The study was designed as a qualitative content analysis. A sample of thirty words was selected employing judgmental approach where researcher’s knowledge on SLE morphology was utilized to select YouTube channels. According to the findings, compounding accommodates the largest number of entries in SLE vocabulary found in the You Tube comment section of the selected channels. Borrowing stands as the second-largest entry. Clippings and affixation respectively accommodate fewer entries. Thus, compounding and borrowing can be identified as the most productive and frequently used morphological processes in You Tube comment section in Sri Lanka. Moreover, most of the compounding and borrowings are influenced by the Sinhala language, revealing its significant influence on morphological processes in Sri Lankan English. In conclusion, it is evident that further research on the SLE morphological processes is essential to codify the modern trends in SLE vocabulary due to the influence of digital platforms like YouTube.