Ceylon Dutch language
Encyclopedia
Ceylon Dutch was a Dutch-based creole language
that is almost extinct. It was spoken on the island of Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka
, which from 1658–1796 was a Dutch colony.
conquered Ceylon from the Portuguese, Portuguese was a recognised language on the island. It was however, a Portuguese Creole because it intermixed with native languages. When the Dutch language
was introduced, it also mingled with Portuguese, indigenous and English influences. Although this language is no longer spoken, there are Dutch influences found in the Sinhalese and Tamil
languages. There is also a portion of the Sri Lankan population with Dutch surnames, often people of mixed Dutch and Ceylonese heritage, who are known as Burghers
.
Dutch-based creole languages
A Dutch creole is a creole language that has been substantially influenced by the Dutch language.Most Dutch-based creoles originated in Dutch colonies in the Americas and Southeast Asia, after the 17th century expansion of Dutch maritime power...
that is almost extinct. It was spoken on the island of Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, which from 1658–1796 was a Dutch colony.
History
When the DutchNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
conquered Ceylon from the Portuguese, Portuguese was a recognised language on the island. It was however, a Portuguese Creole because it intermixed with native languages. When the Dutch language
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
was introduced, it also mingled with Portuguese, indigenous and English influences. Although this language is no longer spoken, there are Dutch influences found in the Sinhalese and Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
languages. There is also a portion of the Sri Lankan population with Dutch surnames, often people of mixed Dutch and Ceylonese heritage, who are known as Burghers
Burgher people
The Burghers are a Eurasian ethnic group, historically from Sri Lanka, consisting for the most part of male-line descendants of European colonists from the 16th to 20th centuries and local women, with some minorities of Swedish, Norwegian, French and Irish.Today the mother tongue of the Burghers...
.