Awareness And Attitudes On The Variety Of English Used In Sri Lanka Among The Undergraduates Studying In State Universities In Sri Lanka

Abstract

This abstract outlines the results of a study which was carried out on the awareness and attitudes of undergraduates of state universities in Sri Lanka about the variety of English they use and the variety of English used in Sri Lanka. The study investigated students’ awareness of Sri Lankan English, the students’ awareness of the variety they use and their perspectives regarding the English they use. The study sample consisted of 119 undergraduates from different state universities. A questionnaire was distributed and online interviews were carried out for data collection. The findings showed that 32 undergraduates out of 119 claim that they use Sri Lankan English where 35 undergraduates out of 119 mentioned that they do not know the variety they are using. However, 34 undergraduates stated that they do not know that there is a variety called Sri Lankan English in Sri Lanka. According to the findings of this study, 37 undergraduates mentioned that they were presently using Sri Lankan English even though they learnt British English.