Linguistics Colloquium | Hypercorrection in ESL Learning/Teaching Contexts: Lessons from Sri Lanka | Sept. 23

Ohio University’s Linguistics Colloquium Series presents Dr. Maduranga Kalugampitiya discussing “Hypercorrection in ESL Learning/Teaching Contexts: Lessons from Sri Lanka” on Friday, Sept. 23, at 12:55-1:50 p.m. via Microsoft TEAMS.

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Contact Dr. David Bell , Chair of Linguistics at Ohio University, belld@ohio.edu .

Kalugampitiya is Senior Lecturer and Head-of-Department, Department of English, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and an alumnus of the M.A. in Linguistics program.

Abstract : Hypercorrection is a phenomenon that could be observed in certain sections of the English speech community in the Sri Lankan context.  Theorized as schizoglossia by Thiru Kandiah and post-traumatic stress-induced (mis)correction by Arjuna Parakrama, this phenomenon refers to a situation where some speakers of English, many of whom are of an average-to-above-average proficiency level in English, feel a compulsion to make themselves sound more correct but in doing that make errors, which they would not make under normal circumstances.  This tendency has been discussed as something that provides insights into certain tensions, which arise out of the rather peculiar position of English in Sri Lanka as the language of both oppression and promise.  The colloquium explores this notion of hypercorrection, with a focus on how best to address cases of hypercorrection in contexts where English functions as a politically and ideologically charged language.