Sinhalese and Hindi languages are connected in terms of family. They come from one main language family. However, they are linked with different branches of the languages. Hindi is part of the Indo-Iranian branch whereas Sinhalese belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the family. So these could be considered the cousin languages. Sinhala translation can be tough comparatively given the fact that this language is written with Brahmic script. However, translation of the Sinhala is quite common and in demand for many reasons. It is one of the official languages of Sri Lanka with Pali. The Sinhala language has a great contribution to the Theravada Buddhist literature development.
As for Hindi, it is an important and one of the official languages of India along with English. The Indian land has witnessed a rich history and diverse cultures since its inception. Therefore, there are as many as 780 languages spoken in India and the country is second in terms of the highest number of languages. Hindi holds great significance as the official language. Moreover, not only this but it is the official language of up to nine states with three union territories. India has received huge recognition and fame on the global front just recently with its Chandrayaan mission going successful among others. India is topping the charts as a growing economy in the world. Hence, Hindi translation services have been bridging the language gap for international businesses who want to tap the Indian market.
However, there are certain linguistic challenges that the companies have to face while working on Hindi and Sinhala translations.
False cognates
False cognates also known as false friends are one big reason that can be misleading. These are the words that apparently look similar but have different meanings and significances. Hence, the confusion in translation becomes evident. Hindi and Sinhala languages are no different in terms of false friends too. Not only with each other but these also have words that rhyme similarly but are different in meanings. Hence, translators often have to navigate through these challenges. Therefore, it is also imperative to only hire native speakers to avoid such misconceptions.
Grammatical differences
Grammatical structures and differences also pose a great challenge for translators. The grammar structure of the Sinhala and Hindi languages has some similarities due to the shared roots. A lot of vocabulary and words in this language come from Sanskrit. This is what also makes the speakers of each language understand the other. However, there are certain grammar facts that make these languages linguistically tough for translators to translate.
Sentence Structure
The sentence structure for Sinhala is SOV i.e. subject object verb. However, the Hindi language follows the SVO subject-verb-object order.
Case system
Sinhala translation gets challenging as this language comes with a complex case system with seven cases marking the noun’s relationship with the verb. On the contrary, Hindi has a much simpler system with three cases in practice.
Gender
Sinhala, like most of the Indo-European languages, has two grammatical genders which are masculine and feminine. Hindi, however, has three which include
- Masculine
- Feminine
- Neuter
Number
Both Hindi and Sinhala languages are similar in terms of singular and plural forms. However, the Sinhala language comes with an additional collective noun that can vary with the type of the object.
Negation
When it comes to negation, the Sinhala language believes in using the negative particle that they add to the verb. Hindi language on the other hand uses ‘not’ which is equivalent before the verb or they can use it at the beginning of the sentence.
Interrogative style
The Sinhala language uses question particles while closing the sentence. Whereas Hindi often has to change the word order and can add interrogative words.
All these differences can make even experienced translators fumble in their translation process.
Cultural references and idioms
Cultural references and idioms also differ from each other despite the shared roots. Although both are Dravidian languages, they differ from each other in terms of cultural references because of different cultures, histories, and social contexts.
Religion and mythology
While dealing with Hindi translation services the translators have to be aware of the Hindu religion and mythology with details about their gods with their significance. The Sinhala language indicates Theravada Buddhism and Sri Lankan folklore which is quite ancient. Whereas Hindi references talk about Hindi deities and epics such as Ramayana and Mahabharata. These differences often make the translators and team suffer while translating content.
Folklore and proverbs
The Sinhalese are proud of their legacy of carrying wisdom about farming, being a nature devotee, and being a community person. However, the folklore and proverbs that Hindi people speak about often focus on karma, family values, and social behavior and conduct. All this information can be gathered by the team of translators while working on these languages as per the subject. Therefore while handling this language pair, the companies must sort out the cultural implications and differences.
Conclusion
Sinhala and Hindi languages belong to a similar language family. However, the sub-branches are different hence making the languages differ on a huge scale. Grammar and cultural differences often pose great challenges for the translators. Therefore, it is imperative to only hire native speakers who understand both languages, their grammar, and their culture.
