Sinhala

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A language of Sri Lanka

ISO 639-3
sin
Alternate Names
Cingalese, Singhala, Singhalese, Sinhalese
Population

15,500,000 in Sri Lanka (2007). Population total all countries: 15,577,690.

Location

Widespread except some districts north, east, and center. Also in Canada, Libya, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United States.

Language Maps
Language Status

1 (National). Statutory national language (1987, Constitution (as amended), Article 18).

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Sinhalese-Maldivian
Dialects

Rodiya. Great differences exist between literary and colloquial language. Rodiya dialect is spoken by low caste Rodiya people.

Typology

SOV; 7 long vowels, 7 short vowels, 24 consonants, including 4 which are prenasalized; gender, number, and case agreement between subject and verb in literary Sinhala

Language Use

2,000,000 L2 speakers (1997).

Language Development
Fully developed. Bible: 1823–1982.
Writing
Braille script. Sinhala script, primary usage.
Other Comments

Buddhist, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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