Park (Uyana): Conceptualization

Abstract

Historical evidence proves that 'parks' have been used as a reconciliation tool between humans and the environment since prehistoric times. With the emergence of various forms of gardening, the basic meaning of park took different forms. This led to complications of understanding what it means by a park. Thus, this paper aims to realize the exact definition of Uyana, which is the Sinhala language term for park how the park is used as a term. The authors used Hela Nirukthi Shasthraya or Hela Niyyukthastra as the method to understand the basic definition of park. We used the equation A = 100/An, B = A/Bn, C = B/Cn, D = C/Dn where A = Base word, B = Level 2, C = Level 3, D = Level 4 and n = number of pure synonyms, to measure definition power of park. We further investigated how many terms are used synonymously with park, and which were gradually distancing away from the basic meaning of park. Further investigations revealed that the identified meanings given to park were indicating a weak power in terms of the power of those definitions. In addition, the term taxonomy of the term park illustrates that the meaning of the park has differentiated with the global development from its original/ basic meaning.