Sri Lankan English - Updates L

This page contains updates to the dictionary beginning with the letter L. It is divided into 2 parts: New Entries, and Comments and Corrections. Click here to return to the main updates page, or on the links on the left side of the page to go to another letter.

These pages are updated regularly; please contact me if you have any suggestions or feedback which can be included.

Latest update: July 2010. New additions are in red.

NEW ENTRIES:

Landmaster (= hand tractor) (brand name)

land phone: land line telephone (> hand phone)
A missive addressed to top Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) officials of a decision to stop issuance of land phones to subscribers has raised eyebrows. (The Nation online 08/04/07)

learners: driving school
You’ll see a learners on the left hand side of the road.

like: would like, want
“You don’t like to get a job machang?” (The Mango Tree, by Anthea Senaratna, page 18)
“Do you like a cup of tea?” asked Latha. (The Mango Tree, by Anthea Senaratna, page 69)
“… I like to thank the President …” (Their Autopsy, by Vihanga Perera, page 164)

like: I like: (coll.) I like it (also love, hate) (> doubt, hate, prefer)
That is why I do not like when people ask so many questions from me. (Sam’s Story, by Elmo Jayawardena, page 3)
I liked when he said nice things like that. (Sam’s Story, by Elmo Jayawardena, page 29)

lobaya: (coll.) a stingy person (Sinhala)

loose: (of rice, flour, sugar, etc.) sold by weight, not pre-packaged
It’s cheaper if you buy it loose.

love match (= love marriage)
Their marriage had been – and still was, in the main – a love match … (The Sweet and Simple Kind, by Yasmine Gooneratne, page 18)



COMMENTS AND CORRECTIONS:

leading: not only leading school, also common with other nouns, e.g. available at all leading bookshops



Click here to return to the main updates page, or on the links on the left side of the page to go to another letter.