TV Times

Incorrect English in teledramas

Ranjith Gamini Perera of Panadura writes...

I have on several occasions written on the incorrect use of English in Sinhala Tele-dramas. This is more serious than we imagine.

"Hit-Wicket" is a teledrama now being telecast over Rupavahini. It has an interesting theme, deviating from the usual Love Triangle.

But the producers of "Hit-Wicket" have been 'stumped' many a time. The main actor, always, in every episode blatantly refers to a 'Cricket Coacher', when it should be "Coach". There are teachers, drivers, leaders and even Trainers, but a person who gives advice and instructions is a 'Coach' and there is no word called 'Coacher'.

Of course it would be used as a verb - "He coaches my son." The irony of it is, the wife uses the correct word - 'coach.'

When the drama is mostly about Cricket, the Director should be well versed in the game or he should get someone who knows about the game to go through the script. The main actor's son is to play in a match, but is dropped at the last moment and is a "reserve" - but the poor man says "My son is among the 'Extras'. Even a child knows that 'Extras' are runs accumulated without the batsman's involvement, eg., no balls, byes, wides etc.

It is a pity that when there are 'advisers' on almost everything these days, there is nobody to advise a TV Channel on such things. Young children will use the word 'Coacher' after watching this drama - after all they pick-up new words by listening!

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