Abstract:
A morphological process is a word formation process which adds new
vocabulary into a language. Sri Lankan English (SLE) is an emerging
concept of varieties in English that has links with native languages in Sri
Lanka. In every language, vocabulary plays a pivotal role in verbal and
written communication. This study investigates the application of
morphological processes by Sri Lankan Facebook users and their
contribution in forming a new set of vocabulary in English with special
reference to bilingual speakers in Sri Lanka in using Facebook as a Social
platform. Qualitative Research methodology involved in collecting and
anodizing data in this research and 30 posts from a personal blog called
“Nimesh” were analyzed. Only four morphological processes such as
borrowing, compounding, clippings, and acronyms were employed to
signify the process of word forming and generation of neologism in relation
to a new concept of English language Varieties called “Sri Lankan English”.
Thus, the study signifies that these four processes apparently scaffold the
generation of neologisms in this new variety in relation to social media
platforms in Sri Lanka. Moreover, the discussion on the results of the study
indicates that the Sinhala and Tamil languages have affected the expansion
of SLE vocabulary. Additionally, the study illustrates that the Facebook
users are very close to these word formations and a new set of vocabulary
of SLE. Therefore it is obvious that these research findings witness the skills
of humans and their behaviors to form new language changes in relation to
the aforesaid linguistic categories of word formation. It also provides an
insight on cultural, social, and linguistic characteristics to spread a positive
attitudinal change among the people about Sri Lankan English
