An Analytical Study of The Communication Issue Occurred in Applying Word-for-Word Translations in the Usage of Sinhala and Japanese as Foreign Languages

Abstract

This research focuses on the mistranslations and miscommunications that occurred by word-for-word translation by Japanese language learners in Sri Lanka. Vise-versa there are many difficulties faced by the Japanese natives who study Sinhala as a foreign language. In order to prove these, questionnaires from 50 students and 40 students from the University of Kelaniya and University of Sabaragamuwa respectively, 40 Japanese Language teachers from national schools, 15 Japanese nationals who are working as JICA volunteers in Sri Lanka, 03 Sinhala Language teachers who teach Sinhala to Japanese people, 05 Japanese translators, are used. It is proved that The Grammar Translation Method has been ineffective in enabling students to develop an understanding of the different usages of words and phrases in their specific cultural context. As a result, students tend to randomly select a word among many synonyms, referring to the word-to word meaning given in the traditional Japanese-English dictionaries regardless of its contextual meaning. The next point focuses on the Japanese natives learning Sinhala as a foreign language. JICA volunteers have pointed out that the diglossia of the Sinhala language poses significant challenges due to the fact that some verbs possess multiple meanings exclusively in the spoken variety. Therefore, this research suggests that Japanese Language Education in Sri Lanka needs major revisions in its methodology of teaching, as they should shift to the Communicative Approach Method from the Grammar Translation Method. In favour of the foreigners who are interested in the Sinhala Language, it is suggested that we should promote the Mediwahara introduced several years back by a Sinhala language veteran Ajith Thilakasena. It would be better to introduce it to the primary schools as an initiative. As a result,Sinhala would be an easy language for foreigners to learn and it will guarantee a future for our native language, Sinhala.