Abstract:
The history of the Sinhala language extends far into the past, with written records dating back
to the 4th century BC, as evidenced by inscriptions and other ancient documents. Following
the arrival of Prince Vijaya, Sri Lanka became inhabited, though there is little concrete
information to suggest that writing was in use at that time. It is assumed that Kuveni and the
indigenous people communicated using a form of language, although there is no direct
evidence to support this. In the 3rd century BC-236 years after the Buddha’s ParinirvanaVenerable Mahinda arrived from Magadha and introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka. Since then,
elements of Indian cultural traditions have gradually merged with the island’s language and
culture. The translation of Pali texts into Sinhala contributed to the increased complexity of
the language and its literature. Inscriptions in caves inhabited by Buddhist monks reveal the
use of early Sinhala, also known as Prakrit (Prakrutha) Sinhala, particularly in recording
monastic precepts. The central research question of this study is whether contact with closely
related languages is an inevitable factor in the evolution of a language. The aim is to explore
how external linguistic influences have contributed to the development of Sinhala.It is well
established that Sinhala has absorbed words categorized as Tatsama and Tatbhava. The
influence of Indian Emperor Ashoka’s inscriptions is evident in the similarities found in the
Sinhala alphabet. The spread of Buddhismand the adoption of the Brahmi script further
expanded the Sinhala writing system, under the influence of Pali and Sanskrit. Numerous
words from Pali and Sanskrit can be identified in Sinhala today, showing how these languages
have nourished its vocabulary. This study examine Sinhala vocabulary in both written and
spoken forms, while also reviewing related research. There is substantial evidence to conclude
that Sinhala has evolved through extensive contact with other languages. During the colonial
era, European languages further influenced Sinhala. Prior to that, the Tamil language had also
played a significant role, particularly due to geographic and cultural proximity. Additionally,
the influence of Pali and Sanskrit—closely related languages from the same linguistic family—
has been considerable. This study places particular emphasis on the Polonnaruwa period and
the colonial era. It ultimately concludes that the Sinhala language has been enriched through a
diverse and fascinating array of borrowed linguistic elements.
