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Singhalese language

Singhalese language

8.4
A language most people in Sri Lanka speak
  • noun
  • UK
: idioma cingalés
  • Many people in Sri Lanka speak the Singhalese language.

Examples

  • The novel was originally written in the Singhalese language before being translated into English.

  • Many Sri Lankan children learn both English and Singhalese language in school.

  • He is fluent in the Singhalese language as well as Tamil and Hindi.

  • The Singhalese language is rich in history.

  • Many Sri Lankan children learn both English and Singhalese language in school.

  • He is fluent in the Singhalese language as well as Tamil and Hindi.

  • The novel was originally written in the Singhalese language before being translated into English.

Synonyms

Sinhala
vsSinghalese language
1 7.9

Main language spoken by most people in Sri Lanka

is defined as the Indic tongue spoken by the majority of Sri Lanka
Sinhalese
vsSinghalese language
1 9.3

The language spoken by Sri Lanka's largest group, called Sinhala

is used broadly by the national majority rather than mainly one group
Sinhala language
vsSinghalese language
1 7.3

The official language of Sri Lanka spoken by most people

is the tongue of most people rather than a term for official status
Singhalese
vsSinghalese language
  • UK
1 9.8

A language spoken by the Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka

is defined by being used by the country's majority rather than one ethnic group
Sinhalese language
vsSinghalese language
1 6.7

The main language spoken by the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka

is defined by being spoken by the majority rather than family classification

Surface Forms

Singhalese language singular
Singhalese languages plural

Morphology

Singhalese + language

The noun phrase is directly compositional: 'Singhalese' names the ethnic/linguistic group and 'language' denotes a system of speech, so together they mean the language spoken by the Singhalese. This is the same transparent naming pattern found cross-linguistically (e.g., 'Spanish language'), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand it.

Etymology

Singhalese language may come from the old word Sinhala, which comes from a word for 'lion'. Long ago the island was called the 'Lion's Island' and the people were called Sinhala, so Singhalese language means the language of those people and is the main language of Sri Lanka.