Identification of a �Written Social Register� in the English language usage in Jaffna: a descriptive analysis

Abstract

This paper seeks to identify the distinctive features which characterize divergences in the written English language usage in Jaffna and makes this language a register. A ?register� , according to Hudson(1998) refers to a variety of language according to its use. Every language accommodates such difference as a scale or continuum of different linguistic levels or styles which are termed as registers. The documentation of these varying features in different discourse communities gains significance in the second language research context of Sri Lanka. In this study the data were collected from the written social invitations, local media and the creative writing of the members of this discourse community after 2009 and analyzed qualitatively to list out the features that portray this written English Language as a register. Thus this study concludes with the listing of morphological features such as transliterations of cultural items such as aum, sivamayam,muhoortham and selvi , metaphorical expressions such as glowing Kungumam, Thaali knot, flower knot, safe as under God Murugan�s feet and sevvaai thosham and features which are ungrammatical according to standard norms such as ?both parties invitation� and finally possessive pronouns which disagree with the subjects and use of prepositions.