Mymensinghi Language

Eastern Bengali, Baṅgālī () or Vaṅga () is a nonstandard dialect cluster of Bengali spoken in most of Bangladesh and Tripura, thus covering majority of the land of Bengal and surrounding areas.

Names

It is also known as Baṅgālī (), Pūrvavaṅgīẏa (), Prācya (), Vaṅga (), or Vaṅgīẏa (). Chatterji often cited a more generalised variant of Eastern Bengali which he dubbed Typical East Bengali for the sake of broader comparison with other varieties of Bengali. Eastern Bengali is often colloquially referred to by the exonym Bangal Bhasha () in West Bengal due to its association with Bangals. It may also be referred to by names such as Khaisi-Gesi Bangla (), emphasising the contrast between Eastern Bengali varieties and the standard language in terms of grammar by use of the example phrases "I have eaten" ( ''kheẏechhi'' in Standard Bengali but ''khaisi'' in Typical East Bengali) and "I have gone" ( ''giẏechhi'' in Standard Bengali but ''gesi'' in Typical East Bengali). A similar name, Khaitesi-Zaitesi Bangla (), instead juxtaposes the examples of "I am eating" ( ''khacchhi'' in Standard Bengali but ''khaitesi'' in Typical East Bengali) and "I am going" ( ''jacchhi'' in Standard Bengali but ''zaitesi'' in Typical East Bengali).

Geographical distribution

Suniti Kumar Chatterji, describing the cluster as "Vaṅga Dialects", further divided it into two groups of two: "Western and Southwestern Vaṅga" and "Eastern and Southeastern Vaṅga". Eastern Vaṅga is spoken across the modern Bangladeshi division of Sylhet and the Greater Comilla region of Chittagong along with the Barak Valley Division of Assam and the state of Tripura in India. Southeastern Vaṅga is spoken in the remaining area of the Chittagong division, corresponding to the former colonial territories of Noakhali District and Chittagong District, and historically extended further into Sittwe. Western Vaṅga is spoken across the Bangladeshi divisions of Mymensingh, Dhaka, and Barisal. Southwestern Vaṅga is spoken across the Khulna Division, where Eastern Bengali transitions into Central Standard Bengali.

Dr. Muhammad Shahidullah divided all Bengali dialects into two groups: Prācya () and Pāścātya (). Within his Prācya grouping, he created the divisions of "Southeastern" and "Extreme Eastern", which approximately correspond to Chatterji's "Western and Southwestern Vaṅga" and "Eastern and Southeastern Vaṅga", respectively. The Southeastern group is spoken across the modern Bangladeshi divisions of Mymensingh, Dhaka, Barisal, and Khulna, as well as the Greater Noakhali region of the Chittagong division and eastern parts of the 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. The Extreme Eastern group is spoken across the Bangladeshi divisions Sylhet and Chittagong, including Greater Comilla and excluding Greater Noakhali, as well as the Barak Valley division of Assam.

Gopal Haldar, in his study of Eastern Bengali, divided all East Bengali dialects into four groups. Group I or "Central East Bengali" spans the modern Bangladeshi divisions of Mymensingh, Dhaka, Faridpur, and Barisal, as well as the district of Chandpur in Chittagong Division. The de facto Standard East Bengali spoken around the Bikrampur region is a member of this group, comparable to Chatterji's "Typical East Bengali". Group II or "Central North East Bengali" is spoken in eastern areas of the Mymensingh and Dhaka divisions, the western half of the Sylhet Division, as well as the Brahmanbaria District of the Chittagong Division. Group III or "North East Bengali" is spoken in the eastern half of the Sylhet Division as well as the bordering Barak Valley division of Assam, India. Group IV or "South East Bengali" is spoken in the Chittagong Division, notably excluding the Greater Comilla region. The Comilla District and Tripura state of India, the Bengalis in the latter chiefly being migrants from the former, sit at the confluence of all the major groupings and thus the speech of this region shares features with all the major groups classified by Haldar. Transitionary East Bengali is spoken in the Khulna division as well as Western Greater Faridpur i.e. Rajbari District, which shares features with both Standard Bengali and Eastern Bengali dialects.

Phonology

Eastern Bengali is characterised by a considerably smaller phoneme inventory when compared with Standard Bengali.

Epenthesis

Eastern Bengali notably preserves epenthesis () from an earlier stage of Bengali. Thus, the equivalent of Standard Literary Bengali ( ISO-15919: ''kariẏā'') 'having done' in Typical East Bengali is ɔ̝i̯ɾa̟ having gone through the medial phase of * ɔi̯ɾiä by comparison, the Standard Colloquial Bengali equivalent is ore as the standard language has undergone the additional phonological processes of syncope and umlaut, unlike most Eastern Bengali dialects. Similar occurrences of metathesis occur in the case of consonant conjuncts containing ‍্য ''jôphôla'', due to the fact that it had, in earlier Bengali, also represented the addition of the semivowel ̯at the end of a conjunct containing it in addition to its current standard usage of simply geminating the previous consonant in the conjunct. ( ISO-15919: ''satya'', 'truth'), for example, pronounced �ɔt̪ːi̯ɔin earlier Bengali, is pronounced �ɔ̝i̯t̪ːoin Eastern Bengali and �ot̪ːoin Standard Bengali. Metathesis also occurs in the case of consonant conjuncts which were once pronounced with ̯as a component even if they do not contain ‍্য ''jôphôla'' itself, such as ক্ষ ( ISO-15919: ''kṣa''), whose value in earlier Bengali was ːʰi̯ Hence ( ISO-15919: ''rākṣasa'', 'rakshasa'), with the earlier Bengali pronunciation of äkːʰi̯ɔʃ is pronounced äi̯kʰːɔ́ʃor äi̯kːɔ́ʃin Eastern Bengali and äkːʰoʃin Standard Bengali. Such is also the case for the conjunct জ্ঞ ( ISO-15919: ''jña''), which had the value of ːĩ̯in earlier Bengali. Hence, ( ISO-15919: ''ājñā'', 'order'), with the earlier Bengali pronunciation of �gːĩ̯ä has the Typical East Bengali pronunciation of �i̯gːa̟and the Standard Bengali �gːä̃ There is also a tendency to hypercorrect, leading to the frequent diphthongisation of vowels with ̯if they precede any consonant cluster, even when there is no etymological basis to do so. For example, ( ISO-15919: ''brāhma'', ' Brahmo') has the Standard Bengali pronunciation of ɾämɦo or, more commonly, ɾämːo but may be pronounced ɾäi̯mːɔ̝in Eastern Bengali as if it were spelt ( ISO-15919: ''brāmya'').

Vowels

* The vowels /e/ and /o/ in the standard language are shifted to /ɛ/ and /u/, respectively. For example, ( ISO-15919: ''dēśa'') 'country' and ( ISO-15919: ''dōṣa'') 'blame' are respectively pronounced ̪eʃand ̪oʃin Standard Bengali but ̪ɛʃand ̪uʃin Typical East Bengali. /o/ may be considered a marginal phoneme due to it not merging with /u/ in rare instances, such as in ( ISO-15919: ''dhō'') 'wash'.
* /ɛ/ and /ɔ/ have raised allophones, �̝and �̝ that occur when followed by a close vowel such as /i/ or /u/. This raising may also occur in open syllables.
* /a/ is centralized, generally pronounced � A major exception to this is when the previous vowel is /i/, especially in cases of metathesis, where a fronted allophone ̟is used instead.
* Although Western Bengali features distinct nasalised forms of each of its vowels, nasalisation is absent in most dialects of Eastern Bengali with the notable exception of Southeastern Vaṅga. This lack of nasalisation also characterises the Standard Bengali of Bangladesh.

Consonants

* Phonemic voiceless aspirated stops—/kʰ/, /tʰ/, and /t̪ʰ/—have been attributed to some Vaṅga dialects, only contrasting with their unaspirated counterparts in initial position. However, their phonemic status is based on analogy with Western Bengali. Učida (1970) provides the alternative interpretation that these aspirates are allophones— ʰ ʰ and ̪ʰ��of corresponding voiceless unaspirated stops—/k/, /t/, and /t̪/—which occur when followed by a suprasegmental change in pitch, i.e. tone. Furthermore, some dialects invariably aspirate initial /t̪/ to ̪ʰ
* Like Standard Bengali, Eastern Bengali lacks true retroflexes. However it further fronts the apical postalveolar stops of the standard language to apico-alveolar.
* Voiceless stops—/k/, /t/, and /p/—undergo lenition in most varieties.
** The voiceless labial and velar plosives also undergo lenition into spirants, such that becomes �and becomes or � especially intervocalically. Hence ( ISO-15919: ''pākā'', 'ripe'), pronounced äkäin Standard Bengali, may variably be pronounced äɦä �äɦä or �äxäin Eastern Bengali dialects. is often deleted entirely instead of simply being spirantised, especially when in proximity of For example, ( ISO-15919: ''bikāla'', 'afternoon'), pronounced ikälin Standard Bengali, is frequently pronounced iälin Eastern Bengali.
** When followed by a rounded vowel, �and �are interchangeable in most dialects of Eastern Bengali. For example, ( ISO-15919: ''kām̐kai'', 'comb') äɦɔi̯may often be pronounced äɸɔi̯and ( ISO-15919: ''phakīra'', 'beggar') �ɔɦiɾmay often be pronounced �ɔɦiɾ This merger is expanded upon in the Noakhali dialect, where all word-initial �(and, by extension, are pronounced � e.g. ( ISO-15919: ''pāgala'') 'madman' ägɔl→ �ägɔl→ �ägɔl and by some speakers of the Mymensingh and Comilla dialects, who pronounce all �as � e.g. ( ISO-15919: ''ḍhupi'') ̠ʱupi→ úɸi→ úɦi'dove'.
** Intervocalic /t/ lenites to a voiced allophone in most Eastern Bengali dialects. For example, ( ISO-15919: ''māṭi'', 'soil') is pronounced ät̠iin Standard Bengali but ädiin Eastern Bengali. However, this does not occur in geminates, so ( ISO-15919: ''ṭāṭṭi'', 'latrine') remains relatively unchanged across varieties, being ̠ät̠ːiin Standard Bengali and ätːiin Eastern Bengali.
* The voiced retroflex flap found in Standard Bengali is almost always merged with /ɾ/ in Eastern Bengali, though it may occur in a minute number of speakers. This merger of /ɽ/ and /ɾ/ also characterises the Standard Bengali of Bangladesh.
* Eastern Bengali dialects tend to spirantise the Standard Bengali palato-alveolar affricates /t͡ʃ/, /t͡ʃʰ/, as well as /d͡ʒ/ and /d͡ʒʱ/ into ͡s and respectively. For example, ( ISO-15919: ''cōra'', 'thief'), ( ISO-15919: ''chaẏa'', 'six'), and ( ISO-15919: ''jāṛa'', 'cold') are respectively pronounced ͡ʃoɾ ͡ʃʰɔe̯ and ͡ʒäɽin Standard Bengali but ͡suɾ ɔe̯ and äɾin Typical East Bengali. /t͡s/ in tends to merge with /s/ as the areas of Eastern and Southeastern Vaṅga are approached, such that ( ISO-15919: ''cā'', 'tea'), pronounced ʃäin Standard Bengali, is pronounced ͡säin farther western varieties and äin farther eastern varieties of Eastern Bengali. ͡zis an allophone of /z/ that more frequently occurs in Southwestern Vaṅga. ͡ʃoccurs as an allophone of /t͡s/ and /s/ while ͡ʒoccurs as an allophone of /z/ in geminates and consonant clusters, e.g. ( ISO-15919: ''bāccā'', 'child') /bat͡sːa ~ basːa/ äi̯t͡ʃːa̟ ( ISO-15919: ''iñci'', 'inch') /int͡si ~ insi/ nt͡ʃi ( ISO-15919: ''ijjat'', 'honour') /izːɔt̪/ d͡ʒːɔt̪
* /ʃ/ has a tendency to debuccalise to �in word-initial position, e.g. ( ISO-15919: ''śālā'') /ʃälä/ → �älä'brother-in-law', be deleted entirely in word-medial position, e.g. ( ISO-15919: ''uśāsa'') /uʃäʃ/ → äʃ'breath', and be either retained or deleted in word-final position, e.g. ( ISO-15919: ''mānuṣa'') /mänuʃ/ → änuʃ ~ mänu'people'.

Tone

The aspiration and breathy voice present in Standard Bengali is notably mostly if not entirely absent in Eastern Bengali. The West Bengali linguists Chatterji and Sen described the deaspirated voiced consonants present in Eastern Bengali as being implosive consonants, such that the Standard Bengali phonemes /bʱ/, /d̪ʱ/, /ɖʱ/, /dʒʱ/, and /ɡʱ/ would respectively correspond to //, //, //, / ɗʒ/, and // in Eastern Bengali. However, Animesh K. Pal, a native speaker of Eastern Bengali from Narayanganj, disputed this claim, instead describing the deaspiration as leading to the development of tones.

These tones are not limited to voiced aspirates, but are also present as compensation for the aspiration of consonants that were voiceless aspirates in Standard Bengali. Tone continues to exist in words even if they are not part of a near-identical pair that requires it for the sake of contrast.

Furthermore, the �of Standard Bengali is most often deleted in Eastern Bengali dialects. This h-dropping has also been said to result in tone.

Comparison

Mymensinghi

Mymensinghi Bengali () is an eastern dialect of the Bengali language, spoken primarily in the greater Mymensingh region of Bangladesh. Mymemsinghi Bengali closely resembles the dialect of greater Dhaka region.

Names

The word "Mymensinghi" is locally pronounced as Momensinga and Moimensinga. It is also referred to as Mymensingiyo, Moymonsingha, Maimensingha or simply Mymensingh.

Geographical distribution

The Mymensinghi dialect is common in almost all districts of Mymensingh Division of Bangladesh. It is also spoken by many local residents of Kishoreganj and Tangail districts of Dhaka division outside Mymensingh division. Additionally, it is spoken by people in adjacent areas of the neighboring Meghalaya state in India, as well as the Gazipur, Kurigram and Sunamganj districts of Bangladesh.

Features and Comparison

Mymensinghi dialect shows almost similar features like others eastern dialects of Bengali language. Mymensinghi Bengali speakers generally produce consonantal sounds with reduced aspiration. For example, the Standard Bengali consonants /t͡ʃ/ and /t͡ʃʰ/ are pronounced as ͡sand respectively. Similarly, the sound corresponding to ‘p’ sometimes articulated in a less aspirated manner and becomes akin to � In addition, the dialect shows variation in the realization of certain affricates and fricatives. Moreover, there are extensive uses of epenthesis of ‘i’ and ‘u’ vowels, developed from an earlier stage of Bengali language. The vowel sound ‘o’ may shift toward a pronunciation akin to ‘u’. For example, ( ISO-15919: ''bōkā'', 'dumb') is pronounced ''bukā'' in this dialect.

The morphology of the Mymensinghi dialect retains several features that distinguish it from the standard dialect. A notable example alongwith others eastern Bengali dialects, Mymensinghi Bengali agree in having ‘rē’ as the proper affix for dative case whereas the standard dialect prefer ‘kē’. For example, the Standard Bengali word "āmākē" (to me) becomes "āmārē" in Eastern Bengali. Furthermore, in forming the future tense, speakers add the suffix 'mu' or 'ām' to the first-person singular verb root (e.g., “Kormu/koram” for “I will do”), reflecting a systematic morphological variation in verbal inflection. The Mymensingh dialect has mid-front and back vowel mergers.

A comparison of Standard Bengali and Eastern Bengali dialects are presented below:

References

Bibliography

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{{Bengali language

Bengali language in India
Languages of West Bengal
Bengali language in Bangladesh
Languages of Tripura
Eastern Indo-Aryan languages
Languages of Bangladesh
Bengali dialects