PGIHS-RC 2024
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
Now showing 1 - 5 of 76
- ItemThe need for a new translation culture: An analysis of social media translations in Sri Lanka(Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (PGIHS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2024-12-19) Jayasingha, J.A.K.M.Translation, the process of converting words or text from one language into another, can be considered an intimate act of reading. Today, the effortless accessibility of technology allows for rapid and easy translations. However, this has led to deviations from the literal and metaphorical meanings of the original text, resulting in an inevitable shift from ‘straightforward’ translation to broader, sometimes distorted, and inaccurate adaptations. This qualitative study aims to investigate the gaps and problems in short, direct, and inverse translations on Sri Lankan social media platforms. It proposes recommendations for fostering a new translation culture. A sample of public Facebook posts, advertisements, and notices symptomatic of distortion, inaccuracy, and lack of accountability has been selected for analysis. These examples have been examined through theoretical lenses, including those of scholars such as Gayatri Spivak and Susan Bassnett. The analysis reveals that many translations are crude, rigorously distorting the original meaning. In terms of language and idiom, a sense of technicality and flippancy undermines the central idea. This is particularly evident in how idioms, metaphors, and expressions that convey the essence of the original language are translated. Moreover, clear signs of the use of Google Translate and other online translation tools were observed. The study concludes that direct and inverse translations are currently seen as a quick, easy way to communicate on platforms like social media, with little regard for accountability to the original text. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new translation culture: one that prioritizes intimacy, accuracy, and accountability and that engages deeply with the challenges posed by linguistic and cultural differences, going beyond the established norms of ‘successful translations.’
- ItemNaming, translation and transforming sinhala middle-class womanhood: A comparative study of selected texts and their translations into Sinhala(Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (PGIHS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2024-12-19) Jayaweera, A.J.M.N.M.The present study engages in a comparative textual analysis of selected texts to unpack their portrayal of naming practices as role-players in shaping Sinhala middle-class womanhood. The selected texts are Marie Musaeus Higgins’ Stories from the History of Ceylon for Children and Leela’s Dreams, and their selected Sinhala translations. The study recognizes naming and renaming as acts that translate womanhood in relation to contemporary Sinhala nationalisms of the early 20th and early 21st centuries. The purpose of the study is to explore the significance of naming practices in reconfiguring, expanding, or shrinking the category of the Sinhala middle-class woman. The study identifies Sinhala nationalism as the main force that guides the naming of Sinhala middle-class women. Sinhala nationalism engages in a clever play with naming, and the literature such as Higgins' work produced during the time endorses such play. It recognizes the importance of naming in initiating women as authentic subjects of an emergent modern Sinhala nation. Therefore, through comparative textual analysis of the selected texts and their translations, the study explores how names act as signifiers of ideal Sinhala middle-class womanhood in the backdrop of Sinhala nationalism. It also recognizes the shades of class and race that influence this act of naming the Sinhala middle-class woman. The study is interdisciplinary, as it draws from Translation Studies, Language Studies, Poststructuralism, and Feminism to provide a broader understanding of the cultural, political, and ideological factors that determined naming practices in the early 20th and early 21st centuries and how those influenced the narration and translation of names and naming by Marie Higgins and the translators of the selected texts. The analysis highlights the dominance of Sinhala nationalistic thoughts in the early 20th and early 21st naming practices of the Sinhala community. It also recognizes the presence of some residues of Anglophilia or Eurocentrism embedded in some of the naming practices of the community. The names of the period also carry culturally specific senses or meanings related to the ideal qualities and attributes that the Sinhala middle-class woman must embody. Therefore, this study concludes that naming constellates women within frameworks of tradition and authenticity that align with the Sinhala nationalist projects.
- ItemThe integration of the Noble Eightfold Path for sustainable living: Practical approaches and insights(Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (PGIHS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka., 2024-12-19) Rev. Pham Thi My, Dung (Lien Vien); Premasiri, P.D.This paper explores the application of the Noble Eightfold Path—a central teaching in Buddhism—to sustainable living, emphasizing the integration of ethical conduct (sīla), mental culture (samādhi), and wisdom (paññā) into practices that support environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic viability. The study provides a comprehensive overview of how the Noble Eightfold Path guides individuals and communities toward harmoniously enhancing the quality of living with the environment while fostering inner peace, ethical integrity, and sustainable development. The primary objective of this study is to investigate how the ethical, mental, and wisdom-based elements of the Noble Eightfold Path can be pragmatically applied to enhance sustainable living. Moreover, the researcher examines the relevance of Buddhist ethical concepts to sustainable practices and highlights the role of mental concentration (samādhi) in building resilience and composure. In addition, this research investigates how the concept of wisdom (paññā) promotes sustainable behavior of individuals. The study adopts a qualitative research approach by integrating textual analysis with contemporary works on sustainability and ethical living. In particular, Buddhist ethical concepts such as kusala/akusala and puñña/pāpa shall be examined in seeking practical applications. The benefits of mental concentration (samādhi) and the role of emotional intelligence in sustainability are analyzed through a literature review and comparative analysis. This research concludes that the Noble Eightfold Path provides a powerful and actionable guide for achieving sustainable living. By weaving ethical conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom into everyday life, individuals and communities can be fostered to make a sustainable and harmonious world from personal to spiritual well-being. Thus, the paper advocates the aforementioned Buddhist concepts for the potential growth of a harmonious society in the pursuit of sustainability.
- ItemResponse of different types of women entrepreneurs to the chances in entrepreneurial ecosystem factors in Sri Lanka(Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (PGIHS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka., 2024-12-19) Madhavie, A.V.K.Women entrepreneurs significantly contribute to a country’s economic growth. However, when analyzing women entrepreneurship deeply, it is obvious that there are different types of women entrepreneurs, and their contribution to economic growth is varied. Although entrepreneurial development policies are implemented in general, the responses of different types of entrepreneurs to the changes in entrepreneurial ecosystem factors are different. As women's entrepreneurship has been recognized as a new engine of economic growth, it is important to analyze the response of women entrepreneurs to those changes. Then, this study focuses on analyzing the responses of different types of women entrepreneurs to changes in entrepreneurial ecosystem factors. Three types of women entrepreneurs, Stagnant, Progressive, and High-growth, categorized by the annual growth rate of turnover, were considered in the analysis. Entrepreneurial ecosystem factors such as attitudes, ability, aspiration, and alertness which are considered individual factors, and inputs and markets, supportive facilities, taxes and charges, and cultural barriers, which are considered institutional factors were used as entrepreneurial ecosystem factors to find answers to the research objective. This study is based on primary data collected from a sample of 367 women entrepreneurs applying the stratified sampling method and Ordered Logistic Regression was applied to analyze data. The results revealed that the favorable changes in alertness, inputs, markets, taxes, and charges affect Stagnant women entrepreneurs and push them out of that type. As a result, they may become either progressive or high-growth women entrepreneurs. Also, those three main factors affect high-growth women entrepreneurs to hold them further in that type. High-growth women entrepreneurs are the ones who highly contribute to economic growth. However, the results exhibit no effect on the Progressive type, confirming that the type does not respond to the changes in entrepreneurial ecosystem factors. Progressive women entrepreneurs are the largest type among all three types. The study concludes that all types of women entrepreneurs in Sri Lanka do not respond to the changes in entrepreneurial ecosystem factors driven by entrepreneurship policies.
- ItemSocial relationships and Burmese Buddhist monks in the Konbaung period in Myanmar(Postgraduate Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (PGIHS), University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka., 2024-12-19) Thagga, W.L.; Premasiri, P.D.As Buddhism was considered the state religion of Burma (now Myanmar) in the Konbaung period (1752-1885 C.E.), the Burmese Buddhist monks played a crucial role not only in spiritual guidance but also in social service. For instance, education in that period was mainly based on monastic institutions. Sources reveal that there were two types of monastic institutions: one taught students only religious text, and the other provided not only religious but also secular education in areas such as medicine, astrology, music, art of war, etc. In return, the lay society also provided the four requisites and other necessary things to the members of Saṅgha. However, the question of whether there were any challenges for Burmese Saṅgha in social relationships with lay society remains to be answered. The central aim of this research paper is to shed light on the relationship between the Burmese Saṅgha and the lay community. In order to investigate their relationship, the data for this research were collected from various old historical records such as Burmese chronicles, inscriptions, manuscripts, and other historically related research publications. This research explores that the Burmese Saṅgha in that period served as spiritual leaders, translated not only Buddhist texts but also other secular texts such as medicine, and law into Burmese, and compiled several types of texts. In addition, due to the situation, they were involved in social activities such as peace-making, serving as state counselors, and providing guidance to administration, and providing judgment, Although the kings in the Konbaung dynasty highly supported the members of Saṅgha, such as conferring religious titles and giving royal patronage, there were records to show that monks were suppressed. This paper suggests that although Burmese monks served as religious leaders and social workers for the lay community, they faced several challenges in their relationship with them. Moreover, Burmese Saṅgha's contributions still affect Myanmar's current society.