The Value of Protecting Endangered Language in Culture: With Special Reference to Examine the Vedda Language in Sri Lanka

Veddas or Vanniyaletto; an aboriginal group of Sri Lanka have survived for several millennia by adapting and coping with internal and external stress imposed on them. Archaeological and historical evidence prove that they inhabited the island long before the arrival of Aryans and had spread all over it. At present their existence is threatened by modernization where they are forced to embrace the modernity which could also be ended up vanishing them as a cultural group. Language can be considered as the most important aspect of the identity of the culture. During the research it comes to knowledge of the researcher, lack of usage of the Veddas language was the fact behind the modernization, cultural and linguistic assimilation of the Vedda people. Through the empirical findings of this research it is clearly evident that the language of the Vedda is fading away. Finally this research has emphasized that the culture and the language of the Veddas are gradually diminishing and currently the original Vedda language does not exist anymore. The research is based on Qualitative Empirical Research Methodology and the Participant Observation Method based on Case Study has been used for data elicitation.