Sinhala Words of Dutch Origin
Exploring the linguistic legacy of Dutch colonization in Sri Lanka
2025-02-15T06:10:38.222Z Back to posts
Sinhala Words of Dutch Origin
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Sinhala, the official language of Sri Lanka, has borrowed words from various languages over the centuries. Among these languages are English, Portuguese, Arabic, and Dutch. The Dutch influence on the Sinhala language is a result of the historical colonial era when Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) was under Dutch rule.
History of Dutch Colonization
The Dutch East India Company (VOC) established its presence in Ceylon in 1602. They captured the coastal areas, including the port city of Galle, from the Portuguese in 1640. The VOC ruled Ceylon for nearly a century until it was ceded to the British in 1815.
Dutch Influence on Sinhala
During the Dutch colonial period, many Dutch words entered the Sinhala language through various channels:
- Direct borrowing: Many Dutch words were directly borrowed into Sinhala, often with minimal changes.
- Semantic extension: Some Sinhala words developed new meanings by extending their semantic range to accommodate Dutch loanwords.
- Compounding: Sinhala words were combined with Dutch roots or prefixes to create new compounds.
Examples of Sinhala Words of Dutch Origin
The following table lists some examples of Sinhala words that have a Dutch origin:
| Word | Meaning | Etymology |
|---|---|---|
| දුන් (Dun) | a type of fish | from Dutch: “duin” (sand fish) |
| මාව (Mawa) | a type of boat | from Dutch: “maaiveld” (meadow field), likely referring to a flat-bottomed boat |
| ගඩු (Gadu) | a type of tree | from Dutch: “gadouw” (a type of palm tree) |
These examples demonstrate the impact of Dutch on the Sinhala language. The borrowing of words was a natural consequence of the linguistic and cultural exchange that occurred during the colonial period.
Conclusion
The Dutch influence on Sinhala is a testament to the complex history of language contact in Sri Lanka. While many languages have contributed to the richness of the Sinhala vocabulary, the Dutch legacy remains an important part of its lexicon.