MODULE 2

GENERAL CONVERSATION

BYBONNIE GRAHAM MacDOUGAllwith KAMINI de ABREW

FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTEDEPARTMENT OF STATE

FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTEBASIC COURSE SERIES

Edited byMARIANNE LEHR ADAMS

ii

General Conversation

FOREWORD

This is the second volume of Basic Sinhala, a coursefor the beginning student which is presented in three modules:

I Beginning Signs and LettersII General ConversationIII Sinhala Structures

A five part preliminary version of this series of lessonswas completed in 1968 as a basic course for the Peace Corps. Threemodules of that preliminary version have been combined as moduleII in this revision. The Division of Language Training of thePeace Corps, then directed by Allan Kulakow, supported the devel­opment of the original materials under contract # PC-82-l944. Atrial version was utilized in training Ceylon II at Fresno StateCollege in Fall 1967. Olivia Silva assisted in the writing ofthe preliminary materials and Sriyani Herath helped prepare thefinal copy for submission to the Peace Corps.

This final version of General Conversation was completedwith funds supplied by the Foreign Service Institute and the Agencyfor International Development. The Honorable Howard W. Wriggins,Ambassador to Sri Lanka, supported the project and created anopportunity to revise and complete the materials in Sri Lanka.Kamini de Abrew, currently the coordinator of the Embassy languageprogram in Sri Lanka, provided continuous and invaluable assistancein revising and preparing the final copy.

Kamini de Abrew and I should like to thank our friendTrelicia Gunawardana, actress, university lecturer and member ofthe Embassy language staff, for the important part she played inhelping us assemble the materials. We should also like to expressour appreciation to Sally Barton for typing most of the Englishportions and to Kamal de Abrew, Chula de Abrew and Kumari Edirisinghefor helping proof the final copy. We are grateful to many membersof the Embassy staff, especially to Ralph Hartwell and CharlesAntholt for their support and encouragement.

I should like to acknowledge the debt lowe to Drs. EarlStevick and James Stone at FSI. The modular approach to thepresentation of second language materials is one which has beenexplored by Stevick for a variety of languages, and this parti­cular module is largely based on a format he developed called"microwave." I had an opportunity to work with t;he format whenI assisted Dr. Stone in the development of a trial version of"microwave" Hindi materials in 1966. Most of what I know or careabout in language teaching is traceable to my association withDrs. Stevick and Stone, and I thank them for their inspirationand patient attention to a fledgling linguist.

iii

General Conversation

I was introduced to Sinhala and Sri Lanka by Professor JamesGair. Professor Don David de Saram taught me to speak thelanguage. My husband Robert and my parents have always supportedand shared my interest in Sri Lanka, most recently by modifyingtheir own schedules to care for the children while I was away.Mrs. M. Tiruchelvam has for fifteen years now brought me intoher own family in Sri Lanka when I was far from home.

The dwelling plans on pp. 254 and 255 and the photographon p. 258 are by Robert MacDougall. They have been reproducedwith permission. The photograph on p. 230 was contributed byTrelicia Gunawardana. Bus route maps are by the Survey Department,Government of Sri Lanka. A few of the smaller photographs suchas those on p. 175 were taken by W. Sugathadasa. All other mapsand photographs were supplied by the Ceylon (Sri Lanka) TouristBoard.

For me, Sri Lanka has been a fascinating and hospitableplace to live and work. Sinhala has opened the door to ideas,life-ways and friends I would never have known without it. Kaminide Abrew and I hope that these materials will open similar doorsfor others.

Bonnie Graham MacDougallIthaca, New YorkApril 1979

General Conversation S~A

TO THE INSTRUCTOR: HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

1. Cycles

The cycles consist of M-phases and C-phases. During the M-phasesthe sentences should be repeated to the students by the instructor.The students should mimic the pronunciation of the instructormany times both chorally and individually. Sentences should bepracticed one by one until students can repeat them relativelyfluently and with good pronunciation. The instructor shouldinsist on correct pronunciation. If this cannot be accomplishedthrough repetition, the instructor should use the Sinhala writingsystem whenever possible to show the students where they have gonewrong. The use of the writing system is particularly useful inillustrating mispronunciations of vowels which result when theEnglish stress system is applied to Sinhala utterances, and inillustrating the substitution of short vowels and consonants forlong ones and vice-versa. Grammatical questions raised by studentsshould be answered promptly and succinctly before going on to theC-phase. The information contained in Sinhala Structures should behelpful in preparing such presentations.

The C-phase presents an opportunity to use the language and to ex­pand vocabulary. Since it is the part of the lesson students enjoymost, there is always a temptation to rush through "M" to get to"C". Try to resolve all fluency and pronunciation problems beforegoing on to the C-phase. If too little time has been spent on"M", students will not be able to handle "C" comfortably. Whenstudents request vocabulary items, they should write them down.They should be given direct singular and direct plural forms of nounsas well as the "class" (see Sinhala Structures, 1.) For verbs, thebasic present and past forms should be given.

2. Other material

Procedures for dialogues, drills and texts involve the basic tech­niques of audio-lingual instruction which are likely to be familiarto instructors using this book. To the extent that special in­structions are necessary for exploiting these materials to thefullest, they are given below. Many pictures and illustrationsappear in this book, and their implications for lesson materialhave not been fully drawn out. Teachers may find it useful tobuild new materials around them.

3. Additional suggestions

If the class is conducted at the Embassy in Sri Lanka, the languagestaff should try to involve the Sri Lankan employees in helpingstudents practice. Organizing field trips -- to Sinhala movies andnearby markets, for example, will enrich the course and make it fun.

v

General Conversation SINHALA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cycle 1 What is this? ......................... 1

.............................

Notes on structure: definite and indef­inite forms of the noun: the Sinhalasound system: single and doubledconsonants 3

Cycle

Cycle

2

3

What is that over there? · . · . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 8Note on structure: demonstratives 8

Classroom expressions ....•.....•......... 9Note on structure: the infinitive 9

What are these things? ......•............. 9Note on structure: demonstratives 10

Summary Practicing patterns from Cycles 1-3 15

Cultural Note Greetings and leave-taking 18

More Classroom Expressions ...........•.................... 19

Note on structure: the verb 8~8d~8J,

'understand', with an actor in thedative case. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . .. 19

Cycle

Cycle

4

5

Are these things boxes? . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . .. 19

Is that answer correct? . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . .. 20

Note on structure: variant spellings ofClas s D nouns. . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 21

Cycle 6 Making requests • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 24

Note on structure: the verb §cJ~8J,

~say'; the subordinating particlez:5)(jCJ • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 26

More classroom expressions: negativereques ts . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 26

Notes Dn structure: variants of theinfin~tive form (request form) 27

vi

General Conversation SINHALA

Dialogues I, II and III: Eliciting vocabulary fromSinhala speakers •.•.•......••........•..... 28

Dialogue I

Dialogue II

Dialogue III

Summary

What do you say in Sinhala for whathe is doing? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . .. 29

Notes on structure: present tense forms,§~~ , Class C nouns •..•...•.................. 29

What do you say in Sinhala for whatthis person is doing? • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • .. 30

Notes on structure: present tense forms,CJ!6fJJo. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 32

What do you say in Sinhala for what thefarme r i s do i ng ? .•••.•..•...•..•....•.•...... 3 3

Practicing patterns from Dialogues I-III ..... 34

Cycle 7 Eliciting vocabula~y ••.••.............•...... 38

Cycle 8 What is your name?Note on structure:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 46genitive case forms •..... 46

Terms 0 f Addres s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4 7

Cycle 9 What is his/her name? ...............•....... 51

Cycle 10

Cycle 11

Cycle 12

Cycle 13

Cycle 14

What are the names of these people? 53Notes on structure: the 'and' particle;geni tive forms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 53

Ishi s n ame deS i 1va? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 4Note on structure: 8~Ga3, 'is not! 55

Whose goods are these? .......•...•.......... 56

Are these things yours? . • . . . . . • . . . . . . • . . . . •. 57

Wha t color i sit? .. . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 8Note on structure: the emphasizing particle 3. 58

Talking about money .....•...•.....•..•....•................. 59

Cycle 15 Do you have money on you? .•.................. 59Notes on structure: postpositions; the verb

E) G'c.:l~ E)J , ' be' . . . - • . • . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . • . • . . . . • . . . .. 60

vii

General Conversation SINHALA

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

16

17

18

How many cents are on the table? 61Note on structure: postpositions 61

Give me a 50¢ piece 62Notes on structure: genitive forms, G~~~,

'here'. . 63

How many 5¢ pieces do you have on you? ..... 64

Dialoque IV

Summary

In the consular section 65Notes on structure: inflected noun forms 65

Practicing patterns from Dialogue IV ...•... 66

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

19

20

21

22

23

What is your occupation? 72

Is it for the Sri Lanka government thatyou work? .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 77Note on structure: negating present tenseforms 78Additional vocabulary: the names ofSri Lanka government ministries anddepartments ............•................... 79

What kind of work is it that the gramasewaka does? 82Notes on structure: Ga~~, 'what', andgeni tive forms 83Sample text: the postmaster 83Sample text: casting a horoscope ...•...... 84

What is the day today? .......•............. 87

What time does the Embassy open? 89

Cycle 24

Cycle 25

Cycle 26

Cycle 27

Notes on structure: emphatic verbforms; numerals and quantifying phrasesin the dative case. ....................... 89

What time is it? ........................... 90

What time is it? (continued) ·.............. 92

What time is it? (continued) ·.............. 93

What time is it? (continued) ·.............. 96

Cycle 28 What time is it? (continued) .......•....... 98Note on structure: another use of theemphasizing particle a _ 98

viii

General Conversation SINHALA

Dialogue V

Summary

Receiving a call after hours atthe Embassy • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• 10 1

Notes on structure: CfJ25)l, 'want; 25)@, ' if' ,and l5)lzs)~ , 'if not'; participle forms;G~25)~~, 'until' with time expressions; thepostposi tions ~dCl6, 'before', and t'dGd,, after' ; t)~6,' about', and EJ~6?4 'only'. 102

Practicing patterns from Dialogue V ...•..•• 103

Cycle

Cycle

29

30

What are the business hours of thepost office? .•••.•...........•••....••.•.• 109

Note on structure: the emphasizingparticle ~................................109

Where do you live now? .••...........•.•... 110Notes on structure: ~~25)BJ, 'be', andgenitive forms. . .............•........... III

Cycle 31 Where are you from?Note on structure: instrumental forms ....

III112

Cycle 32 Are you from Sri Lanka? 112

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

33

34

35

What part of the country are you from? .•... 113

How many miles to Kandy? 117

How old are you? ..............•........... 120Note on structure: expressing agein Sinhala ............................•... 120

Cycle 36 Ask that gentlemanNote on structure:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 121instrumental forms •.•• 122

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

37

38

39

Ask those gentlemen... . .•.............. 123Note on structure: instrumental forms .•.. 123Giving a monologue ...........••.••....••.. 123

When will you go to Sri Lanka •.•or back to the United States? 125Notes on structure: new verbs; the months;~B~J ~?, 'when' 126Addi tiona 1 vocabulary ..............••..... 127

Why are you going to Sri Lanka next year? . 129Note on structure: e:fZCJ , 'why'.

i:x

General Conversation SINHALA

Cycle 40 Why are you going in January?Why don't you go in March? 130Notes on structure: 3)t')), 'because', wi thverb forms; the emphatic negative form'D)l~G~; ~Z'D)(), 'right now'; t:l()~ m~'D)8) ,

'begin', and G./t)o st)'D)t)), 'finish, be over;'rapid speech forms 131

Dialogue VI

Summary

Receiving a visitor in the consularsection. . 132.....Notes on structure: the ~ form of theverb; an idiomatic use of G./~'D)f)J, 'be';m~3, 'went'; t5lSoz , 'who';-1'5), 'also';2S)Z~'D)@ , 'or, otherwise'; plural thirdperson pronominal forms; ~f)38' 'on leave'. 132

Practicing patterns from Dialogue VI 133

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

What is the date today? 137

When were you born sir? and where? 138Notes on structure: Ctl~'D)lh , 'be born';expressing the year; numerals in thegenitive case 138

Were you born in the United States? 139Note on structure: -1'5), 'also' 140

Are you an American citizen? 142Notes on structure: the 'eventhough, even if' form of the verb;,the past verbal adjective with B~,'because' ; t3~OVG'f)C3 G/zs'f'D)83 , 'reside; beres iding , ; 90~ZamJ f)~ ~zG'Q)'D)f)) " receivecitizenship'. . 143

Are you married? 145Note on structure: t5lt'))~ Q)z~(3), 'be married,have married. ' ~ 145

How long have you been married? 146Notes on structure: G'f)'D)~), 'become',wi th time express ions; G'iS))t3Bo 'how much' 146

Are your parents living? 147Notes on structure: new past tense forms;'die'; a further note on G./~'D)f)), 'be'. . ... 148

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General Conversation SINHALA

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

48

49

50

51

52

53

How many people are there in this room? ..... 151Notes on structure: animate numeralsand ques tion words; 0~Z5)t)3 , 'be'. . 151

Do you have children, sir? ...............•.. 153Notes on structure: 0~Z5)B~ meaning 'have'with an actor in the dative case; review-ing animate numerals 153

Do you have any brothers? 155Note on structure: review.........•........ 155

Do you have any sis ters ? .•........•....•.... 157

Problems in arithmetic. . 158Note on structure: ~~ 'came' 159

What do you call your mother's mother? 160Notes on structure: the present verbaladj ective; Q)ze;c3 0~Z5)~, 'be married';the extension of kinship terms to non-relatives. . 161

Summary

Taking the bus:Cycle 54

Talking to a "monolingual" 162Conducting an interview: the familyhis tory . ............................•....... 16 3Sample interview 163

How did you come here, sir? ..............•.. 167Notes on structure: instrumentalforms; q!JG~, 'came'; C3E)roJ 'here' . . ..•... 167

Cycle 55 Using the Colombo bus system 169Notes on structure: 9~E)[5} , 'can',and Q)l, ' can't' . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170Bus services, Colombo and environs 171Colombo city and suburban bus routes 173Bus routes in the Colombo Fort 174More about busses 175

Knowing languages

Cycle

Cycle

56

57

Do you know Sinhala, sir? 177

Where did you learn Sinhala?How? Who taught you? 179Notes on structure: new past forms;basic and emphatic past. . ...........•....... 179

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General Conversation SINHALA

Cycle 58 Did you study at the university sir? .....•..• 180The educational system in Sri Lanka 181Notes on structure: the past of 8t)25)th,'become'; ~z~C' st)25)t), , 'enter'; G~C3, 'which'181

Dialogue VII

Summary

Taking a ride in a Colombo taxi .........•.... 182Notes on structure: G'lif~?,'isn't it?';the nega tives 25)z and OJz in interroga t i vesentences; negatives before §o'because'; the particle a ; ~ C25)JU ,nevertheless, but'; an interjection .•......•. 183

Practicing patterns from Dialogue VIr ..•.... 184

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

59

60

61

In what language is Lankadipa published? ..•.. 192Daily newspapers published in Sri Lanka ....•.. 193Text: the newspapers in Sri Lanka ...•.....•. 194Notes on structure: mr.0 ••• a , 'each andevery'; ~rn~ , 'many, a large number';~ C25)~ , 'nevertheless'; instrumental forms .. 195

Sir, what papers did you read this week? ....• 196Note on structure: the past tense ofE)(.~t)75)~ , read' .

What has been the latest news in the papers? 197Notes on structure: the present verbaladjective; superlatives; the past of §8c.J25)t):) ,, be'; ~:lC5otj 'news'; (5)z25) , 'about' 198

The Daily Routine

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

62

63

65

What do you do in the morning? 199Notes on structure: basic present forms ....• 200

Notes on structure: A 'when' form of theverb; gdG't.jCCJ , 'before', and od'Gd ,'after', with preceding verh forms 200Do you study Sinhala before you eatbreakfast, or after? 201

At what time do you eat breakfast? ~ .. 202Note on structure: at what time? .....•..... 202

When did you get up today? 203Note on structure: the past tense ofZ5)z@U25)tJJ 'get up'. . 203

xii

General Conversation SINHALA

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

66

67

68

69

70

71

It seems that he eats breakfast at 8:00..•.. 204Note on structure: 'it seems'. . ........•.. 205

After you got up this morning, what didyou do? ...........•..••.......•.....•........ 206Note on structure: the participle ....•...... 206

What did you eat for breakfast? 207Note on structure: past forms; the 9form ........................•............. 207

After you ate breakfast, what did youdo? ...................•.....•................ 209Notes on structure: the past tense andthe particip Ie .........................•..... 209

Who usually makes breakfast? 211Notes on structure: the reflexive pronoun;complex verbs; §B 'no, not any' 212

How do you like to drink your tea? 214Additional useful words and phrases 215Notes on structure: ~za§a, 'like';the participle..............•................ 216

Directions for preparing tea ....•............................ 217Text: How to make tea: version 1 221Text: How to make tea: version 2 223Text: How to make tea: version 3 224

The Daily Routine (continued)

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

72

73

74

75

76

Have you recei,ved any letters recently? ..... 225Notes on structure: 'receive'; instru-men ta1 forms 226

What do you do when you have finished work? .. 227Notes on structure: the roe form of theverb; compound verbs wi th G't):1S)t)~ 'become' ;§~O 'just, for no particular purpose'; .... 228

There is a good movie showing at the Lido 229Movie schedule 231

Have you seen that movie? 232Notes on structure: perfect forms; 'see' 232

Let's go see Gehenu Lamay 233Notes on structure: perfect forms; the8 form 233

xiii

General Conversation SlNHALA

Cycle 77 How do you get from here to there? .........•.. 234Notes on structure: verb forms ......•........ 236Guide map to Galle Fort ........•.............. 237Kandy guide map .........................•..... 238Anuradhapura guide map 239

Monologue: What I did yesterday 240What did you do today? text I 241What did you do today? text II ........•...... 242

The Land and the People

Cycle 78 How much is it? Which is cheaper? ...•••...... 245Note on structure: the comparative 246Additional vocabulary: foodstuffs 247

The Land and the People: Farm and Home: .....•.

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

79

80

81

82

83

84

85

What do you call this thing here? 250Notes on structure: verbal adjective andverbal noun; location words 250Key to dwelling plan and axonometric 251Dwelli ng plan .............•................... 25 4Axonometr i c 255

What is it made of? : 256Note on structure: review 256

What do you use a winnowing basket for? ...•... 257

What are the various things used to storepaddy? 259Notes on structure: verbal adjectives 260

Making substitutions 261Notes on structure: 'instead of'; 'times';'everybody'; quantity words 262

Making observations and getting explanations .. 263

Where i sric e s own ? ....................•...... 26 5

Paddy Cultivation 267Text I: Getting the field ready for plowing .. 271Text II: Getting the field ready for plowing .. 272Vocabulary expansion: questions and answersabout the texts .•......................•...... 272

xiv

General Conversation SINHALA

Paddy Cultivation •.......................................... 273

Text III: Plowing and grading thefield for sowing : 276

Text IV: Plowing and grading thefield for sowing 277

Text V: Tending the crop 279Text VI: Harvesting the crop 280Text VII: Threshing ...•................ 282Summary vocabulary .....•....•......•....... 285Summary exercise: finding out aboutsomething new 288

Traveling by Rail and Air

Cycle

-Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

Cycle

86

87

88

89

90

At what time does the plane going toMadras leave? ........................•..... 290International, regional and domesticair services 291

At what time does the Fort bound trainleave? 292Notes on structure: 'depart' and 'arrive';the verbal adjective ..............•........ 292Train schedule: Hatale line -- betweenMatale, Kandy and Colombo Fort 293Train schedule: the Udarata Menike 294Train schedule: the Yaldevi and theRuhunu Kumar i .......................•...... 29 5

What time does the 8:00 train get intothe Fort? 296Note on structure: the verbal adjective 296

How long does it take when going to Colombo?297Notes on structure: review ...........•... 297

What meals are available in the restaurantcar? 298Meal service in restaurant cars .•.......... 299

A Little Tamil for the Sinhala Learner 301

Gloss a ry ..•........•.......................•.••....•......... 30 2

xv

General Conversation SINHALA Frontispiece

STANDING BUDDHA AT THE GAL VIHARA, POLONNARUWA, 12TH CENTURY

xvi

General Conversation SINHALA

GLOSSARY

The glossary on the following pages summarizes most of the contentwords which have appeared in this book. English borrowings asclass C nouns, however, have not been included since all forms arepredictable from the direct singular and the meanings in any caseare transparent. Basic present and past forms are given for verbs.For nouns the direct singular and direct plural forms are generallygiven together with the class of the noun. This information willpermit the student to predict all other forms. Past forms of verbsand plural forms of nouns are enclosed in (). Numerals are citedin their direct indefinite forms with the stern form on which complexnumerals are built enclosed in (). For certain entries, notablydemonstratives, interrogatives and numerals there are citations toSinhala Structures where further detail appears. For some entriescertain forms are lacking in Sinhala or rarely used. For example,many of the terms for foods or food classes (meat, eggplant, millet)are plurals and there is no corresponding singular. In these casesthe entry form is a plural and distinguished with the followingnotation: n. pl.

Entries are alphabetized according to the Sinhala system. Vowelsappear before consonants and consonants are grouped according topoint and manner of articulation. In this glossary nasalized con­sonants immediately follow the corresponding non-nasalized consonanti.e., ~ follows ~ , rather than the corresponding nasal, i.e, mThe latter convention has been adopted by Carter (1936). Other­wise the system here follows Carter 1936, a work which should beconsulted for full details on the order of symbols.

In most standard language courses a glossary surveys the completevocabulary which has been learned or taught. If the format in­corporates a microwave component however, the students and the in­structor play a role in determining course content, and it is notpossible to anticipate which portions of the lexicon will be singleout for emphasis. It is therefore important that the student keepa personal record of words which have been requested in class forready reference and review.

302