A Comparative Study of the Usage of the Tamil Locative Case (Uddēśa Vibhakti) in Sinhala

Abstract

The term vibhakti originates from the root bhaj (to divide), prefixed with vi- and suffixed with the krut -ktin (or -ti), forming a feminine participle (Kṛudanta). Case or Vibhakti refers to the suffixes that divide the meaning of a base form of a noun into various semantic roles such as Nominative Case (Subject of sentence), Accusative Case (Object of action), Instrumental Case (Means by which action is done), etc. In contemporary Sri Lanka, bilingual practices fostering ethnic coexistence are highly valuable and should be appreciated. However, over an extended period, several drawbacks can be observed in the systematic guidance required for effective language education in this domain, both in terms of human resources and physical resources. Sinhala native speakers learning Tamil as a second language frequently encounter significant difficulties, particularly with the application of case markers (Vibhakti Prayōga). Accordingly, the primary objective of this research is to examine and compare how the Tamil locative case (Uddēśa Vibhakti) is employed in Sinhala. This research further attempts to stimulate innovative ideas among scholars in the field and to enable students to learn the Tamil language as a second language with greater ease and motivation. A qualitative research approach is employed in this study and primary data are collected by examining and analyzing Sinhala and Tamil grammatical books, discussing and consulting with native Tamil-speaking teachers, and through insights derived from practical experience in teaching Tamil as a second language. Secondary data are collected through internet sources and related articles. Findings of the study reveal that the Tamil language uses a specific number of suffixes that directly attach to nouns to form locative case, while Sinhala language heavily relies on postpositions that follow a noun in the accusative case to express the same nuanced spatial and relational meanings.
Keywords: Mother Tongue, Locative Case (Uddēśa Vibhakti), Second Language, Suffix, Vibhakti