The Structure and usages of future forms in Classical Sinhalese Literature

This research paper is presented to identify the morphological and practical approaches to the future verb appearing in the prose language of classical Sinhalese. According to records, five formations of the future verb can be identified. This shows that the future verbs of the Sinhalese language were not clearly identifiable in classical literature. Therefore, it is possible to observe how different formations were used to convey the same linguistic meaning. There are two future formations in the traditional standard grammar of Sinhalese. According to the facts found in religious texts which were written in the Classical Sinhalese Period, some other formations of future verbs are realized. This research is mainly based on the qualitative research method. The data is collected from primary and secondary resources. The future forms used in the Classical Sinhalese Period are taken into account in this research. The religious texts such as Dharma Pradīpikā, Amāvaturǝ, Butsarǝɳǝ, Pūɟāvəlijə, Saddharmə Ratnāvəlijə, and Pansijəpaɳas Ɉātəkə Potə are considered as main primary resources in the research. These literary works which were written in the Classical Sinhalese Period have been selected for the research because they represent the written and spoken varieties, the standard and non-standard varieties of the Sinhalese language. The data collected from the texts is categorized and analyzed according to the relevant formations of the future tense. According to the facts found in the above-mentioned religious texts, there are five formations of future forms. They are as follows: the future form with future meaning, the future form with present meaning, the adverb of (future) time with the future verb form, the adverb of (future) time with the present verb form and the representation of the future meaning by the present form. Therefore, two future formations of traditional grammar are developed up to five in the Classical Sinhalese literature.