The Different Analytical Approaches of Two Sinhalese Grammarians: A Comparative Analysis on Cumarathunga Munidasa and Ra. Tennakoon

This paper aims to identify and analyze the differences between the approaches of Cumaratunga Munidasa (1867-1944) and Ra.Tennakoon (1899-1965) in analysing Sinhalese grammar. For this, two texts on Sinhalese grammar namely, vyākaraṇa vivaraṇaya (Exposition of Grammar) by Cumarathunga Munidasa and Hon̆da Siṁhala (Good Sinhalese) by Ra. Tennakon. The first one was published in 1938 and the second one in 1964. The time difference between these two is about 26 years. The texts have observed the various grammatical categories in Sinhalese and tried to examine them with their own approaches. Many of the categories are similar in both but the approaches are different for them. The grammarians were considered prominent members of one organization (Heḷa Havula) and commonly accepted in one ideology regarding language study. The paper reveals the differences between them in grammar study in a comparative manner. The usages of language in the texts, how to identify the grammatical categories in theoretical perspectives, and how to examine their application are the major objectives included in this paper.