Review of Arts and Humanities December 2016, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp. 29-49 ISSN: 2334-2927 (Print), 2334-2935 (Online) Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. Published by American Research Institute for Policy Development DOI: 10.15640/rah.v5n2a4 URL: https://doi.org/10.15640/rah.v5n2a4 Dyslexic Characteristics among Jaffna Students Ms. Gevani Prahalathan 1 Abstract Learning disability is a cognitive problem that is not seen as a disability among students, unless the teachers or parents have awareness about it. In the case of Jaffna peninsula it is much worse that students are not given special care which affects their education and future and they are labelled as “lazy’ students who don’t like to study and are being punished as well. To overcome this situation and to bring a better future for the poor children who have this disability, this research is to give support as well as awareness about this disability in the Jaffna peninsula. This research is focused at the linguistic level of the disability of dyslexia, the data collected and analysed through questionnaires given to the parents and teachers who deal with children, interviews and reading activities for the children were given to identify the difficulties. This research examines the problems of learning disability in a linguistic view as the analysis mainly focuses on linguistic characteristics based on Tamil language, in which linguistic level the children are having difficulties so that it would be easy to explain to the teachers as well as parents, how they should be able to find out the problems so that it will be easy to correct the children and give repetitive exercises to drill them little by little to bring them up. This thesis will also help both parents and teachers to cope with children of learning disability. Background of the Study Linguistics is a scientific study of a language as a whole which has two aspects such as theoretical and applied. Theoretical linguistics is the branch of linguistics that is most concerned with developing models of linguistic knowledge. The fields that are generally considered the core of theoretical linguistics are syntax, phonology, morphology, and semantics. Theoretical linguistics also involves the search for an explanation of linguistic universals, that is, properties all languages have in common. Applied Linguistics is concerned with the systematic study of language structure, the acquisition of first and subsequent languages, the role of language in communication, and the status of language as the product of particular cultures and other social groups. A background in linguistics is essential for language teachers, translators, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and many other language professionals. Applied Linguistics examines the structure of language and its role in communication, explores how children acquire language, studies how the skills of second-language speakers develop, and investigates how the social or cultural environment interacts with language. Clinical Linguistics is a sub-discipline of linguistics which involves the application of linguistic theory to the field of Speech-Language Pathology. Clinical linguistics, a branch of applied linguistics, is the use of linguistics to describe, analyze, and treat language disabilities. The study of linguistic aspect of communication disorders is of relevance to a broader understanding of language and linguistic theory. Since Learning Disability (LD) is a challenge to learn a language which is a primary function of communication. Now more care and special education systems had been introduced worldwide to enhance the learning process of those who are suffering from LD. 1 University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.