A Comparative Study of Bangla and Sylheti Grammar

A Comparative Study of Bangla
And Sylheti Grammar
Amrita Rani DasAmrita Rani Das
(অমমৃততা রতাননী দতাস)
2929Th
cycle
Supervisor
Prof. Rosanna SornicolaRosanna Sornicola
Dipartimento di Filologia Moderna
Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II
Napoli, Italia
October 17Th
, 2017

2
Outline
GeographyGeography and a bit of historyhistory
Introducing BanglaBangla and SylhetiSylheti (ছছললছটছছললছট) language
BanglaBangla and SylhetiSylheti scriptsscripts
IPA
Phonemes
Lexicon
NounsNouns : gendergender, casecase, classifiersclassifiers…
PronounsPronouns
VerbsVerbs
AdverbsAdverbs & AdjectivesAdjectives
InterogativesInterogatives
ConjunctionsConjunctions
EmphasisersEmphasisers & IInterjectionsnterjections

3
Introduction of Bangla and Sylheti Language
Let me take you to the east...

4
Geography of the SylhetiSylheti region

5
Geography : Italy → TurkeyItaly → Turkey

6
Geography : Turkey → IranTurkey → Iran

7
Geography : Iran → Pakistan → IndiaIran → Pakistan → India

8
Geography of the Sylheti region : North-East IndiaNorth-East India
NORTH-EASTNORTH-EAST
INDIAINDIA

9
Geography of the Sylheti region : : North-EastNorth-East
NORTH-EASTNORTH-EAST

10
Geography of the Sylheti region : Sylhet, BangladeshSylhet, Bangladesh
Sylhet,Sylhet,
BangladeshBangladesh

11
Geography of the Sylheti region : Barak Valley, IndiaBarak Valley, India
Barak valley,Barak valley,
IndiaIndia

12
Geography of the Sylheti region : KarimganjKarimganj
KarimganjKarimganj

13
Geography of the Sylheti region : CacharCachar
CacharCachar

14
Geography of the Sylheti region: HailakandiHailakandi
HailakandiHailakandi

15
Geography of the Sylheti region
Sylhet,Sylhet,
BangladeshBangladesh Barak valley,Barak valley,
IndiaIndia

16
History : 19711971 War andWar and MigrationMigration
1971 War1971 War and
SylhetiSylheti MigrationMigration
Sylhet,Sylhet,
BangladeshBangladesh Barak valley,Barak valley,
IndiaIndia

17
Motivation...
●
1111 millionmillion SylhetiSylheti speakers.
● A complete SylhetiSylheti grammar does not exist, this will be the
first extenstive study of comparative grammar.
●
Barak ValleyBarak Valley region was not studied in serious details, this
will be the first such study.
● Correct SylhetiSylheti IPA is practically nonexistent, we have
created in this work.

18
Let‘s have a look at the
BengaliBengali & SylhetiSylheti speaking regions...

19
Bangla & Sylheti Speaking Regions
Westbengal,
INDIA

20
Tripura,
INDIA

21
Barak Valley,
INDIA

22
BANGLADESH

23

24
Let‘s see where BengaliBengali & SylhetiSylheti
fit in the IndoIndo-EuropeanEuropean TreeTree...

25
Bangla & Sylheti Languge Tree
Thanks to Minna SundbergMinna Sundberg
(Finnish-Swedish Linguist) for this
beautiful map.

33
History of Bengali...Bengali...

34
Origin of Bangla
1st
Millenium
BC
1000-12001000-1200
ADAD
Beginning
Of 1st
Millenium
End
Of 1st
Millenium
SanskritSanskrit
MagadhiPrakritMagadhiPrakrit
ArdhaMagadhiArdhaMagadhi→ApabhramsaApabhramsa
1400-18001400-1800
End of 19End of 19thth
--
Start of 20Start of 20thth
CenturyCentury
Ancient Languages of BengalAncient Languages of Bengal

35
Origin of Bangla
1st
Millenium
BC
1000-12001000-1200
ADAD
Beginning
Of 1st
Millenium
End
Of 1st
Millenium
BanglaBanglaEmerges
1400-18001400-1800
--
CenturyCentury

36
Origin of Bangla
1st
Millenium
BC
1000-12001000-1200
ADAD
Beginning
Of 1st
Millenium
End
Of 1st
Millenium
1400-18001400-1800
MIDDLEMIDDLEBengaliBengali,
languageofthe
SultanateofBengalSultanateofBengal
--
CenturyCentury
Middle BengaliMiddle Bengali

37
Origin of Bangla
1st
Millenium
BC
1000-12001000-1200
ADAD
Beginning
Of 1st
Millenium
End
Of 1st
Millenium
1400-18001400-1800
--
CenturyCentury
MODERNMODERNBengaliBengali
Emergesfrom
dialectsofNadiaNadiaregion.
ModernModern BengaliBengali

38
Origin of Bangla
1st
Millenium
BC
1000-12001000-1200
ADAD
Beginning
Of 1st
Millenium
End
Of 1st
Millenium
SanskritSanskrit
MagadhiPrakritMagadhiPrakrit
ArdhaMagadhiArdhaMagadhi→ApabhramsaApabhramsa
BanglaBanglaEmerges
1400-18001400-1800
MIDDLEMIDDLEBengaliBengali,
languageofthe
SultanateofBengalSultanateofBengal
--
CenturyCentury
MODERNMODERNBengaliBengali
Emergesfrom
dialectsofNadiaNadiaregion.
Middle BengaliMiddle Bengali ModernModern BengaliBengaliAncient Languages of BengalAncient Languages of Bengal

39
55 Major DialectsDialects of Bangla
Bangla Bhasha
(Bengali language)
Sahitjik Bangla
(Literary Bengali)
Kothjo Upobhasha
(Spoken dialects)
Sadhu Calit Rarhi Jharkhandi Borendri Bongali Kamrupi

40
Bangla Bhasha
(Bengali language)
Sahitjik Bangla
(Literary Bengali)
Kothjo Upobhasha
(Spoken dialects)
Diglossic language
Decline : beginning
Of 2020thth
century

41
Bangla Bhasha
(Bengali language)
Sahitjik Bangla
(Literary Bengali)
Kothjo Upobhasha
(Spoken dialects)
Sylheti comes
Under this

42
Sylheti : AA dialectdialect ??
● Many SylhetiSylheti lexicons obsoleteobsolete in StandardStandard
BanglaBangla.
● Related to both AssameseAssamese and BanglaBangla.
Sylheti
Bangla
70 - 80
%
Lexi.
BanglaBangla SylhetiSylheti AssameseAssamese
FartherFarther away from BanglaBangla than from another language AssameseAssamese

43
History of SylhetiSylheti......

44
History of Sylhet and Her Language
SylhetSylhetapartofKamarupaKamarupa
350 – 1140 194719471303 1765 19711971 198019801870

45
ArrivalofShahJalalShahJalal
Perso-ArabicPerso-ArabicInfluencestarts
350 – 1140 194719471303 1765 19711971 198019801870

46
BritishAnnexesSylhetSylhet
andnamesSylhetiSylhetiasthelanguage
ofthedistrictofSylhetSylhet
350 – 1140 194719471303 1765 19711971 198019801870

47
FirstSylhetiSylheti
presspressestablishedestablishedininSylhetSylhet
350 – 1140 194719471303 1765 19711971 198019801870

48
350 – 1140 194719471303 1765 19711971 198019801870
PartitionofIndiaIndia&&PakistanPakistanandfirstfirst
SylhetiSylhetimigrationmigration

49
BangladeshBangladeshLiberationLiberationWarWar
andtheandthesecondsecondSylhetiSylhetiMigrationMigration
intointoBarakValleyBarakValley
350 – 1140 194719471303 1765 19711971 198019801870

50
SylhetiSylhetirecognitionmovementmovement
ininLondonLondon
350 – 1140 194719471303 1765 19711971 198019801870

51
SylhetSylhetapartofKamarupaKamarupa
ArrivalofShahJalalShahJalal
Perso-ArabicPerso-ArabicInfluencestarts
BritishAnnexesSylhetSylhet
andnamesSylhetiSylhetiasthelanguage
ofthedistrictofSylhetSylhet
FirstSylhetiSylheti
presspressestablishedestablishedininSylhetiSylheti
BangladeshBangladeshLiberationLiberationWarWar
andtheandthesecondsecondSylhetiSylhetiMigrationMigration
intointoBarakValleyBarakValley
SylhetiSylhetirecognitionmovementmovement
ininLondonLondon
350 – 1140 194719471303 1765 19711971 198019801870
PartitionofIndiaIndiaandofSylhetSylhet
andfirstfirstSylhetiSylhetimigrationmigration

52
Sylheti : Regional VarietiesRegional Varieties
●
SylhetiSylheti does not have dislossicdislossic variety but has different
regional varities.
Standard
Bangla
East-Sylhet
Group
Sylhet-Cachar
Group
Gloss
আছম খতাছচ
ami k aʰ ʧ iʧ
আছম খতাইয়তার/খতাইরতাম
ami xaiyar,
xairam
আছম খতাইলতছছ
ami xaite iʧʧ
I am
eating
Barak Valley,
India
Sylhet,
Bangladesh

53
SCRIPTS...

54
Scripts
BanglaBangla
Eastern Nagri Script
Known as ‘Bangla lipiBangla lipi‘ in BanglaBangla
LeftLeft to RightRight
No UpperUpper--LowerLower distinction
SyllabicSyllabic script
88 vowelsvowels and 3939 consonantsconsonants
ConsonantsConsonants are accompanied by
inherentinherent vowelsvowels
TwoTwo consonantsconsonants placed together form
a conjunctconjunct letter
SylhetiSylheti
SylhetiSylheti Nagri Script
(related to North-Indian KaithiKaithi )
LeftLeft to RightRight
No UpperUpper--LowerLower distinction
SyllabicSyllabic script
55 vowelsvowels and 2727 consonantsconsonants
ConsonantsConsonants are accompanied by
inherentinherent vowelsvowels
TwoTwo consonantsconsonants placed together form
a conjunctconjunct letter

55
Alphabets : Arrangements of LettersArrangements of Letters
BanglaBangla
VowelsVowels comes before the consonantsconsonants.
CononantsCononants are arranged as
PlosivesPlosives
– UnvoicedUnvoiced, aspiratedaspirated
– UnvoicedUnvoiced,, ununaspiratedaspirated
– VoicedVoiced, aspiratedaspirated
– VoicedVoiced,, ununaspiratedaspirated
NasalNasal
FlapsFlaps
LateralLateral
SpirantsSpirants
GlottalGlottal
ApproximantsApproximants
SylhetiSylheti
VowelsVowels comes before the consonantsconsonants.
CononantsCononants are arranged as
Plosives
– UnvoicedUnvoiced, aspiratedaspirated
– UnvoicedUnvoiced,, ununaspiratedaspirated
– VoicedVoiced, aspiratedaspirated
– VoicedVoiced,, ununaspiratedaspirated
Spirants
– Voiced, voiceless
NasalNasal
FlapsFlaps
LateralLateral
GlottalGlottal
ApproximantsApproximants

56
Alphabet : VowelsVowels
Bangla Letters Phonemes
অ /ɔ/
আ /a/
ই /i/
ঈ /i:/
উ /u/
ঊ /u:/
এ /e/~/ɛ/
ও /o/
/a/
/i/
/u/
/e/, /ɛ/
/o/, /ɔ/
BanglaBangla SylhetiSylheti
front mid back
close i u
close mid - -
open mid ɛ ɔ
-
open a
front mid back
close i u
close mid e o
open mid - ɔ
æ
open a

57
Alphabet : VowelsVowels
Bangla Letters Phonemes
অ /ɔ/
আ /a/
ই /i/
ঈ /i:/
উ /u/
ঊ /u:/
এ /e/~/ɛ/
ও /o/
/a/
/i/
/u/
/e/, /ɛ/
/o/, /ɔ/
BanglaBangla SylhetiSylheti
front mid back
close i u
close mid - -
open mid ɛ ɔ
-
open a
front mid back
close i u
close mid e o
open mid - ɔ
æ
open a

58
BanglaBangla Alphabet : ConsonantsConsonants
ক /kɔ/
খ /kʱɔ/
গ /gɔ/
ঘ /gʱɔ/
ঙ /ŋɔ/
চ /ʧɔ/
ছ /ʧʱɔ/
জ /ʤɔ/
ঝ /ʤʱɔ/
ঞ /ñɔ/
ট /ʈɔ/
ঠ /ʈʱɔ/
ড /ɖɔ/
ঢ /ɖʱɔ/
ণ /ṇɔ/
ত /tt̪ɔ/
থ /tt̪ʱɔ/
দ / /dd ɔ
ধ / /dd ʱɔ
ন /nɔ/
প /pɔ/
ফ /pʱɔ/
ব /bɔ/
ভ /bʱɔ/
ম /mɔ/
য /jɔ/
র /rɔ/
ডড় /ɽɔ/
ঢড় /ɽʱɔ/
ল /lɔ/
শ /ʃɔ/
স /sɔ/
ষ /sɔ/
হ /hɔ/
য় /hɔ/

59
BanglaBangla Alphabet : ConsonantsConsonants :: IPAIPA
labial dental alveolar retroflex palatal Velar Glottal
Plosive(stop)
voiceless
unaspirated p t ʈ ʧ k
aspirated pʱ tʱ ʈʱ ʧʱ kʱ
voiced
unaspirated b d ɖ ʤ g
aspirated bʱ dʱ ɖʱ ʤʱ gʱ
nasals m n ṇ ñ ŋ
flaps
unaspirated
r ɽ
lateral l
fricative s ʃ h
appriximants j

60
SylhetiSylheti Alphabet : ConsonantsConsonants
/k /ɔ
/x /ɔ
/g /ɔ
/ /ɣɔ
/ /ʧɔ
/ /ʧʱɔ
/ /ʤɔ
/z /ɔ
/ /ʈɔ
/ʈʱɔ/
/ɖɔ/
/ɖʱɔ/
/ttɔ/
/ttʱɔ/
/dd ɔ/
/dtʱɔ/
/nɔ/
/pɔ/
/ɸɔ/
/bɔ/
/bʱɔ/
/mɔ/
/rɔ/
/lɔ/
/ɽɔ/
/ʃɔ/
/hɔ
/lɔ/
/ɽɔ/
/ʃɔ/
/hɔ

61
SylhetiSylheti Alphabet : ConsonantsConsonants :: IPAIPA
labial dental alveolar retroflex palatal velar Glottal
Plosive (stop)
voiceless
unaspirated p t ʈ k
aspirated tʱ ʈʱ
voiced
unaspirated b d ɖ ʤ g
aspirated bʱ dʱ ɖʱ
nasal m n ŋ
flaps r ɽ
lateral l
Spirants
voiceless ɸ s ʃ x h
aspirated
voiced z ɣ
approximants j

62
Some Features of BanglaBangla and SylhetiSylheti Scripts
BanglaBangla
●
LongLong and shortshort vowelsvowels exist
● No divasvaradivasvara signs to form DipthongsDipthongs
●
NasalisedNasalised vowelsvowels exist :
– /e/ → /e/ - পপপচচপপপচচ, pp caecae (owl)
SylhetiSylheti
●
SingleSingle length vowelsvowels only
● Has divasvaradivasvara sign to form DipthongsDipthongs
●
NasalisedNasalised vowelsvowels do not exist :
– /ε/ → - পফসচপফসচ, ɸɸεεsasa (owl)

63
Inherent Vowels : Presence of It
BanglaBangla
In the end of a conjunctconjunct letter
– pnʃɔ ɔpnʃɔ ɔ (dream)
After a final hh
– eh (body)dd ɔeh (body)dd ɔ
InIn comparativecomparative andand superlativesuperlative
adjective forms
– ut t t mʃ ʃɔ ɔ ɔut t t mʃ ʃɔ ɔ ɔ (highest)
After /j//j/ preceded by //i/i/, //e/e/, //u/u/
– prijɔprijɔ (favorite)
SylhetiSylheti
In the end of a conjunctconjunct letter
– pnʃɔ ɔpnʃɔ ɔ (dream)
After a final hh
– eh (body)dd ɔeh (body)dd ɔ
InIn comparativecomparative andand superlativesuperlative
adjective forms
– ut t t mʃ ʃɔ ɔ ɔut t t mʃ ʃɔ ɔ ɔ (highest)
–

64
Inherent Vowels : Absence of It
BanglaBangla
33 indicatorsindicators are used to mutemute the
inherentinherent vowel
– onuʃkar (after cons.)
– ‍‍ 'hɔʃ nɔ ttɔ (under)
–
ৎৎ 'kh ndɔ ɔ ttɔ, (after)
Usually not pronounced after singlesingle
consonantsconsonants ::
– হচতহচত //ha /tdha /td (hand)
SylhetiSylheti
11 indicatorindicator is used to mutemute the inherentinherent
vowel
– oo onuʃkar (after cons.)
Usually not pronounced after singlesingle
consonantsconsonants ::
– হচতহচত //ha /tdha /td (hand)

65
Dipthongs
●
22 BanglaBangla dipthongsdipthongs have their own signs
● - ঐঐ [oi], ঔঔ [ou]
● Full vowelvowel follows the another vowelvowel
– ছদইছদই /dii/ (I give)
●
/j//j/ is used between two vowelsvowels ননয়তাননয়তা /neja/
(to take)
● No dipthong letters
– uses divasvaradivasvara symbols to form
dipthongsdipthongs.
● Full vowelvowel follows the another vowelvowel
– নদইনদই /dei/ (I give)
●
/j//j/ letter does not existdoes not exist but the
corresponding sound exists in speech !

66
Conjuncts
BanglaBangla
Cojuncts are written in various forms :
– HorizontalHorizontal line ( ড + ড → ড)
– VerticalVertical line ( প + প → প)
– NewNew form ( ক + র → )
Some BanglaBangla consonants have diacriticdiacritic
sing known as ‘pholaphola‘
SylhetiSylheti
Cojuncts are written in various forms :
– No horizontalNo horizontal line form
– Only VerticalVertical line ( )
– No newNo new forms
No diacriticNo diacritic sings
Conjuncts are limited in number

67
LEXICON...

68
Lexicon : Mostly Sanskrit Derived
Sylheti
Bangla
Bangla
90% Sanskrit derived
10%
Foreign
70 - 80 %
common
ररातततर
ratdri
রচত
ratt
রচইত
raitt
(Night)

69
SylehtiSylehti : Borrowed WordsBorrowed Words :: Non-SanskritNon-Sanskrit
Source
language
Bangla
Script
Transc.
(Original)
Transc.
(Sylheti)
Gloss
ArabicArabic অখলঅখল aqlaql ax lɔax lɔ wisdom
persianpersian দমদম damdam d mɔd mɔ breath
PortugesePortugese চচাববচচাবব chavechave sabisabi key
EnglishEnglish জজেলজজেল jailjail jeljel school

70
Lexicon : A Religious DivideA Religious Divide
There is a clear divide between HindusHindus and MuslimsMuslims when it comes to choice of
words (at least in BarakBarak region)
Another example of this phenomenon can be the HindiHindi--UrduUrdu divide.
HinduHindu MuslimMuslim Gloss
হহনচনহহনচন
hinanhinan
গসলগসল
gus lɔgus lɔ
bath

71
Lexicon : Lexical Replacement ofLexical Replacement of BanglaBangla IntoInto SylhetiSylheti
BanglaBangla SylhetiSylheti Gloss
ছচরুছনছচরুছন
( iruni)ʧ
নফইননফইন
( ein)ɸ
comb

72
Lexicon : Phonological AdtaptationPhonological Adtaptation
Adaptation Original
form
Sylheti gloss
/p//p/ →→ / /ɸ/ /ɸ PuliʃPuliʃ uliɸ ʃuliɸ ʃ police
Insertion of /i//i/ g nnɔ ɔg nnɔ ɔ gɔgɔiinnɔnnɔ respected
Metathesis mukuʈmukuʈ mu ukʈmu ukʈ crown
Prothesis skulskul iiskulskul school

73
Lexicon : Morphological AdaptationMorphological Adaptation
BanglaBangla aʈaʈ ʈʈebilebil ++ aʈaʈ ʈʈebilebilitaita
the table
SylhetiSylheti xanxan ʈʈebilebil + xanxan ʈʈebilebilxanxan
BanglaBangla etdetd ʈʈebilebil ++ etdetd ʈʈebilebil etdetd
in the car
SylhetiSylheti tttt ʈʈebilebil ++ tdtd ʈʈebilebiltdtd
BanglaBangla balabala ʃɔʃɔ d iʒd iʒ ++ oalaoala ʃɔʃɔ d iʒd iʒ oalaoala
vegetable
vendorSuffixSuffix alaala ʃɔʃɔ d iʒd iʒ ++ alaala ʃɔʃɔ d iʒd iʒ alaala
Classifiers
Cases
Suffixes

74
Noun
● Bangla and Sylheti have : ProperProper, CommonCommon, GenericGeneric, collectivecollective etc. nouns
and are derived from verbsverbs and adjectives :adjectives :
– r lʃɔ ɔ (honest) – r lʃɔ ɔ aɔtdaɔtd (honesty)
GenderGender
● There is NONO grammatical gendergender in BanglaBangla and SylhetiSylheti. FeminineFeminine gendergender is
formed by adding suffixessuffixes with the musculinemusculine forms :
suffix Mas. noun Fem. noun gloss
/a/ dɔ ʒ d aɔ ʒ goat
/i/ kamla kamli servent
/ni/ malik malikni owner
/ika/ gaj kɔ gajika singer
/ ri/tt ne atd ne ritd leader
Sylheti :Sylheti :

75
Classifier
BanglaBangla
● Has no fixed articles, cclassifierslassifiers are
added with nounsnouns to make them
definitedefinite and indefinite.indefinite.
● Has singularsingular and pluralplural classifiers.
●
SingularSingular classifiers: tata, titi, kkhhanaana
●
PluralPlural classifiers: gulogulo,, d nʒɔd nʒɔ ,, rara
SylhetiSylheti
●
SingularSingular classifiers : ta, guta, gu, iguigu, xanxan
●
PluralPlural classifiers :
– AnimateAnimate : in: in, i atdi atd ,, d nʒɔd nʒɔ ,, rara
– InanimateInanimate : tain: tain
●
InformalInformal classifiers : iguigu

76
Classifier
BanglaBangla
● Singular classifiers: tata, titi, kkhhanaana
● Plural classifiers: gulogulo,, d nʒɔd nʒɔ ,, rara
SylhetiSylheti
● Singular classifiers : tata, gu, gu, iguigu, xanxan
● Plural classifiers :
● Informal classifiers : iguigu

77
Classifier
BanglaBangla
●
SingularSingular classifiers: tata, titi, kkhhanaana
●
PluralPlural classifiers: gulogulo,, d nʒɔd nʒɔ ,, rara
SylhetiSylheti
●
SingularSingular classifiers : ta, guta, gu, iguigu, xanxan
●
PluralPlural classifiers :
●
InformalInformal classifiers : iguigu

78
Case
BanglaBangla
● Has 44 cases : Nominative, Genetive,
Objective & Locative.
●
NominativeNominative case is ununmarked :
Punom bhat khay
●
GenetiveGenetive case : /r/, /er/, / er/dd
●
ObjetiveObjetive case : /ke/, / er/dd
●
LocativeLocative case : /e/, /j/
SylhetiSylheti
● Has 44 cases : Nominative, Genetive,
Objective & Locative.
●
NominativeNominative case is marked :
● Transitive
– Punomee bhat khay
● Intransitive
– Mina khub salak
●
GenetiveGenetive case : /r/, / r/,ɔ /tt r/ɔ
●
ObjetiveObjetive case : /re/
●
LocativeLocative case : /ɔ/, /td/

79
Pronoun
BanglaBangla
● Has personalpersonal, inanimateinanimate, relativerelative,
interrogativeinterrogative, reflexivereflexive and deicticdeictic
pronouns.
● Has NONO gender distinguishing
pronouns.
●
22ndnd person pronoun has 33 degrees of
politenesspoliteness.
●
33rdrd person pronoun has 22 degrees of
●
33rdrd person plural personal pronoun has 22
degrees of politenesspoliteness and it is
represented by the nasalnasal symbol.
SylhetiSylheti
● Has personalpersonal, inanimateinanimate, relativerelative,
interrogativeinterrogative, reflexivereflexive and deicticdeictic
pronouns.
●
33rdrd person ordinary prnoun has
gender.
●
22ndnd person pronoun has 33 degrees of
●
33rdrd person pronoun has two degrees of
●
33rdrd person plural personal pronoun has
OneOne degree of politenesspoliteness.

80
Pronoun : Distance and CaseDistance and Case
BanglaBangla
● All the personalpersonal pronounspronouns are
distinguished according to distancedistance.
● All the personalpersonal pronounspronouns and
demonstrativedemonstrative pronounspronouns have :
– NearNear
– NeutralNeutral
– FarFar
●
AnimateAnimate pronounspronouns have 33 cases while
inanimateinanimate pronounspronouns have 44 cases
SylhetiSylheti
● All the personalpersonal pronounspronouns are
distinguished according to distancedistance.
●
PersonalPersonal pronounspronouns have
– NearNear
– NeutralNeutral
●
DemonstrativeDemonstrative pronounspronouns have
– NearNear
– NeutralNeutral
– FarFar
●
AnimateAnimate pronounspronouns have 33 cases while
inanimateinanimate pronounspronouns have 44 cases

81
Pronoun : Animate and InanimateAnimate and Inanimate
Gloss
nom ki atd what
gen ki artd of what
obj ki atd what
loc ki atd td in what
Sing. Plur. Gloss
nom ke/xe xara who
gen xar xarar
of
whom
obj xare xarare
to
whom
- - - -
ANIMATEANIMATE INANIMATEINANIMATE

82
Verb
BanglaBangla
●
66 classesclasses of verbs
– CVCCVC / VCVC
– CaCCaC / aCaC
– CVCV
– CaCa
– CaCaCaCa / CVCaCVCa
– Extended oo conjugation
●
VowelVowel mutationmutation occurs and is an
important factor in BanglaBangla.
SylhetiSylheti
●
55 classesclasses of verbs
– CVCCVC / VCVC
– CaCCaC / aCaC
– CVCV
– CaCa
– CaCaCaCa / CVCaCVCa
– -
●
NONO VowelVowel mutation.mutation.

83
Verb : EndingsEndings : BanglaBangla
Tense
ami
I
ui Youtt
(informal)
umitt you
(ordinar
y)
eʃ
he/she
(ordinary)
initt he/she
(honorary)
apni he/she
(honorary)
Simple present i is o e en en
Present continoun iʧ isʧ ʧɔ eʧ enʧ enʧ
Past perfect e iʧ e isʧ eʧɔ e eʧ e enʧ e enʧ
Future tense bɔ bi be be ben ben
Simple past lam li le lɔ len len
Past continouns ilamʧ iliʧ ileʧ ilʧ ɔ ilenʧ ilenʧ
Past perfect e ilamʧ e iliʧ e ileʧ e ilʧ ɔ e ilenʧ e ilenʧ
Past habitual amtt istt ett ott entt entt

84
Verb : EndingsEndings : SylhatiSylhati
আছম I
ততই you
(Informal)
ততছম you
(Ordinary)
নহ/ততাই he/she
(Ordinary)
ততাইন
him/her
(Honorary)
আফলন
You
(Honorary)
Simple
present
i os ɔ e oin oin
Pres.
continous
iyar re ray er ra ra
Pres.
perfect
iʧ sʧɔ ʧɔ eʧ oinʧ oinʧ
Future tense mu be bay bɔ ba ba
Simple past lam le lay lo la la
Past
continous
aslam asle aslay aslo asla asla
Past perfect slam sle slay slo sla sla
Past
habitual
amtt ett aytt ttɔ att att

85
Verb : Non-Finite Verb FormsNon-Finite Verb Forms : Verbal NounsVerbal Nouns
nono (BanglaBangla)
nini (SylhetiSylheti)
Three more : aa, jaja and baba are used in the same way in bothboth languages.
stem transcript verbal noun transcript gloss
Class 5 চতালতাচতালতা alaʧalaʧ চতালতাচতালতাননতাননতা alaʧalaʧ nono drive
Class 6 এগএগ egɔegɔ এগএগননতাননতা egɔegɔnono advance
stem transcript Verbal
noun
transcript gloss
Class 5 ঘতমতাঘতমতা g umaʱg umaʱ ঘতমতাঘতমতাছনছন g umaʱg umaʱ nini sleep

86
Verb : Conditional Participle
●
lele (BanglaBangla), all classes
●
lele (SylhetiSylheti), only Class 11 and 22
●
ileile is added with all other SylhetiSylheti verbs.
stem transc c.p transc gloss
Class 1 নলখনলখ lekʱlekʱ নলখনলখনলনল lekʱlekʱlele write
stem transc C.P transc gloss
Class 1 নলখনলখ lekʱlekʱ নলখনলখনলনল lekʱlekʱlele write

87
VerbVerb : Perfective Participle
●
IjaIja (SylhetiSylheti) : all Sylheti verb forms
●
ee (BanglaBangla) : class 11 – 44
●
IjeIje (BanglaBangla) : class 55 and 66
stem transcription P.P transcription gloss
করকর k rɔk rɔ কছরকছরয়তায়তা k rɔk rɔ ijaija do
নতামনতাম namnam নননননমনম nemnemee ascend
ততাকতাততাকতা akattakatt ততাছকততাছকনয়নয় akttaktt iyeiye see

88
VerbVerb : Imperfective participle
ttette (BanglaBangla & SylhetiSylheti exceptexcept class 55) : allall verb forms
i ett (SylhetiSylheti) : class 55 verb forms
stem trans Im.p trans gloss
কর kɔr করলত kɔrtde do
চতালতা sala চতালতাইলত salaitde drive

89
Adjectives and Adverbs
●
TypesTypes and formationsformations of adjectivesadjectives and adverbsadverbs are similar in
both.
●
AdjectivesAdjectives are derived from nouns by adding suffixes :
– sro add dd ʱsro add dd ʱ (respect) + ilʃilʃ = sro add dd ʱsro add dd ʱ ilʃilʃ (respectful)
●
AdverbsAdverbs are formed by adding ee and tdɔtdɔ to some adjectivesadjectives
and nounsnouns :
– nirobnirob (silent) + ee = nirobnirobee (silently)
●
AdeverbsAdeverbs formed by reduplication
– as etdas etd (slow) + as etdas etd (slow) = as etdas etd as etdas etd (slowly)

90
Adjectives and Adverbs...
● Some adjectivesadjectives and adverbialadverbial words are different in BanglaBangla & SylhetiSylheti.
●
AdjectiveAdjective (comparing equals)
– BanglaBangla : m tɔ ɔm tɔ ɔ – r babarɔ ɔ m tɔ ɔm tɔ ɔ
– SylhetiSylheti : laxanlaxan – he tar babar laxanlaxan
( He is like his father )
●
AdverbeAdverbe of frequency
– BanglaBangla : bʃɔbʃɔ – bʃɔbʃɔ somoy kore
– SylhetiSylheti : h x lɔ ɔh x lɔ ɔ – he h x lɔ ɔh x lɔ ɔ omoj koreʃ
( He always does )

91
Interrogative
BanglaBangla
●
Wh-question word starst withWh-question word starst with kk phonemephoneme
––
– kke (who), kkoi/kkotdhaj (where), kkobe
(when)
●
Tag-question :Tag-question : ai nattai natt
– ttumi d at t ,ʒ ʃ ʃʰɔ ttai na ? (you are
going, aren‘t you ?)
SylhetiSylheti
●
WhWh-question word starst with k/xk/x
phoneme –
– kke/xxe (who), kkoi/xxoi (where),
xxobe/xxobe (when)
– Sylheti has interogative pronouns
for formalformal and informalinformal situations:
●
FormalFormal : xxe (who), xxar
(whose)
●
InformalInformal: – xxigu (who), xxigur
(whose) etc
●
NoNo tagtag-questions in SylhetiSylheti !

92
Conjunctions : BanglaBangla & SylhetiSylheti
Coordinating Conjunctions Subordinating Conjunctions Correlative Conjunctions
Conjunctions
Conjoining Alternative Contrasting Resultative Temporal
Cordinating Correlative
Conjunctions
Subrdinating Correlative
Conjunctions

93
Conjunctions : CoordinatingCoordinating
ConjoiningConjoining
Bangla : ɔ
Sylheti : ɔ
AlternativeAlternative
Bangla : b r ŋɔ ɔ
Sylheti : bɔr ŋsoɔ
ContrastingContrasting
Bangla : bettɔ
Sylheti : kin utt
TemporalTemporal
Bangla : arp rtt ɔ
Sylheti : arp rett ɔ
ResultativeResultative
Bangla : aitt
Sylheti : ɔ alagitt

94
Bangla : ɔ
Sylheti : ɔ
Bangla : bettɔ
Sylheti : kin utt
TemporalTemporal
Bangla : arp rtt ɔ
Bangla : aitt

95
Bangla : ɔ
Sylheti : ɔ
Bangla : bettɔ
Sylheti : kin utt
TemporalTemporal
Bangla : arp rtt ɔ
Bangla : aitt

96
Bangla : ɔ
Sylheti : ɔ
Bangla : bettɔ
Sylheti : kin utt
TemporalTemporal
Bangla : arp rtt ɔ
Bangla : aitt

97
Bangla : ɔ
Sylheti : ɔ
Bangla : bettɔ
Sylheti : kin utt
TemporalTemporal
Bangla : arp rtt ɔ
Bangla : aitt

98
Conjunctions : Subordinating: Subordinating and CorrelativeCorrelative
Conjunction
SubordinatingSubordinating conjunction
– d eʒd eʒ (BanglaBangla & SylhetiSylheti)
CorrelativeCorrelative conjunctionconjunction
– CoCoordinating Coorelativordinating Coorelativee
ConjunctionConjunction
●
hoyhoy - na hoyna hoy (BanglaBangla & Syl.Syl.)
– Subordinating CorrelativeSubordinating Correlative
conjunctionconjunction
●
jodijodi – tete (SylhetiSylheti)

99
Emphasisers and Interjection
BanglaBangla emphasisiers : ii, oo, toto ::
ii – o (he/she) – oii (only he/she)
BanglaBangla interjection : aisais, chhichhi, dhathdhath, oo
ma,ma, ufuf,, hayrehayre etc.
SylhetiSylheti Emphasisiers : uu, oo, toto ::
uu – he (he) – heuu (only he)
SylhetiSylheti interjections : ississ, dhatteridhatteri,
hurhur, maiggo,maiggo, ufuf,, hayrehayre etc.

100
ConclusionConclusion and Future PlansFuture Plans
● We have seen many differencesdifferences as well as similaritiessimilarities between BanglaBangla & SylhetiSylheti. Some
of the differencesdifferences were significant.
● Existence of SylhetiSylheti script
● Differences in grammar :
– GenderGender in pronoun
– LexiconLexicon difference
etc make SylhetiSylheti unintelligeble to the BanglaBangla and other dialect speakers and makes it
clear that SylhetiSylheti is a language in its own right.
● This work is the first comprehensive study of SylhetiSylheti grammar compared to that of
BanglaBangla that we would like to publish as a book soon.
● I have found new interesting features in SylhetiSylheti like gendergender, intonationintonation etc that I have
barely touched but will include in the future work in details.
● I will work towards building the complete grammar of this neglected language.

101
Acknowledgements...
I thank….

102
ধন্যবতাদধন্যবতাদ
धन्यबरादधन्यबराद
‫شکریہ‬‫شکریہ‬
Thank YouThank You
ਧਧੰਨਵਵਾਦਧਧੰਨਵਵਾਦ

103
BACKUP SLIDESBACKUP SLIDES

104
Back up slides
● Vowel mutation chart
● Verb conjunction
● Vowel symbol
●

106
Verbal Nouns...
a - with Bangla and sylheti verbs
stem transcrip Verbal
noun
transcrip
t
gloss
Class 1 নলখ lex নলখতা lexa write
উঠ uʈ উঠতা u aʈ rise
Class 2 থতাক akttʱ থতাকতা akattʱ stay
নতাস nas নতাসতা nasa dance

107
Verbal Nouns
Ja – Bangla and Sylheti
stem transcrip Verbal noun transcip gloss
Class 3
ব bɔ বওয়তা b jaɔ sit
ক xɔ কওয়তা xoja eat
Class 4
গতা ga গতাওয়তা gaoja sing
যতা aʤ যতাওয়তা aojaʤ receive

108
Emphasisers and Interjection
BanglaBangla emphasisiers : ii, oo, toto ::
ii – o (he/she) – oii (only he/she)
oo – kar (whose) – karoo (someone‘s)
toto – ami toto aschi (I am coming)
SylhetiSylheti Emphasisiers : uu, oo, toto ::
uu – he (he) – heuu (only he)
oo – ekhon (now) – ekhonoo
(even now)
toto – ami toto aiar (I am coming)

109
Sadhu and Calit Basha
● The two differs basically in the use of verbs, pronouns and lexicon.
Table: Sadhi and calit lexicon
ʃadd hu bʱaʃa transc ʧɔlitd bʱaʃa transc gloss
পতত্র putdrɔ নছলল ʧʱele boy
সঙনীত sɔŋgitd গতান gan music
বমৃক brikṣɔ গতাছ gaʧʱ tree

110
Lexicon : Religious Divide
The choice of word is diffrent between Hindu and
Muslim speakers
Hindu ছহনতান hinan bath
Muslim গুসল gus lɔ bath
Hindu জল d lʒɔ water
Muslim ফতাছন aniɸ water

111
Coordinating conjunction
– conjoining: o - and, also (Bangla)
●
amio jabo (I will also go)
●
o – also (Sylheti)
●
amio aimu (I will also come)
●
ebong – and (Bangla)
●
ami ebong amar bondura (me and my friends)
●
ar – and (Bangla and Sylheti)
●
ami ar amar poribar (Me and my family)
– Conjunction for alternative: kina
●
o asbe kina asbe na (Bangla) (he will come or not)
●
borongso – tumi borongso kam ta koro(Sylheti)
●
you do the work instead

112
Interrogative : Tag Questions and ParticlesTag Questions and Particles
● Bangla has only one tag question – tai na
tumi jabe , tai na ? (you will go, )
● Ki- the question word ki is also used as particle in Bangla. Tumi ki khabe (will
you eat)
● Kita is used as particle in Sylheti. Tumi kita khaibay (will you eat)
● na + ki questions – tumi naki chakri koro?
(you do a job?)

113
Interrogative : Barak ValleyBarak Valley Region
● Do not use all Sylheti Interrogative pronouns
● Introgative pronoun for informal situation are dropped.
● Use of niki for yes-no question
Example: tumi jabe niki ? (will you come)

114
I will also go.
Bangla : ɔ
– amiɔ d abʒ ɔ
Sylheti : ɔ
– amiɔ zaimu
I am not going rather you go (that).
– ami d abʒ naɔ b r ŋɔ ɔ tumi d aʒ ɔ
– ami zaiarna bɔr ŋsoɔ tumi zaɔ
I will come but don‘t know when.
Bangla : bettɔ
– ami a bʃ ɔ tobe d ani na kʒ ɔkhɔn
Sylheti : kin utt
– ami aimu kintu zani na kun belaʃ
TemporalTemporal
You go then I come.
Bangla : arp rtt ɔ
– ttumi d aʒ ɔ arp rtt ɔ ami a bʃ ɔ.
– ttumi zaɔ arp rett ɔ ami aimu.
I know that‘s why I said (that).
Bangla : aitt
– ami d aniʒ aitt b llamɔ
– ami zani o alagitt k ilamɔ

115
SubordinatingSubordinating and CorrelativeCorrelative Conjunction
SubordinatingSubordinating conjunction
– d eʒd eʒ (BanglaBangla & SylhetiSylheti)
tumi jano na jeje he osuk.
(you don‘t know that he is
sick.)
CorrelativeCorrelative conjunctionconjunction
– CoCoordinating Coorelativordinating Coorelativee
ConjunctionConjunction
●
hoyhoy - na hoyna hoy (BanglaBangla & Syl.Syl.)
hoyhoy tumi jao nahoynahoy ami jai
(either you go or i go)
– Subordinating CorrelativeSubordinating Correlative
conjunctionconjunction
●
jodijodi – tete (SylhetiSylheti)
jodijodi tumi jao tete ami kormu
(if you go then I will do)

116
Perfective Participle
● e is added with class 1 to class 4 Bangla verbs
● Ije with class 5 and 6 Bangla Verbs
stem transc p.p transc gloss
পডড় pɔɽ পলডড় p eɔɽ study
নতাম nam ননলম neme ascend
stem transc P.P transc gloss
ততাকতা akatt ততাছকলয় akiyett see
ছচলবতা iboʧ ছচছবলয় iboʧ chew

117
Gender
● There is NONO grammatical gendergender in BanglaBangla and SylhetiSylheti.
●
FeminineFeminine gendergender is formed by adding suffixessuffixes with the musculinemusculine forms :
suffix Mas. noun Fem. noun gloss
/a/ dɔ ʒ d aɔ ʒ goat
/i/ kamla kamli servent
/ni/ malik malikni owner
/ika/ gaj kɔ gajika singer
/ ri/tt ne atd ne ritd leader

118
Postposition
● The functions of postpositionspostpositions are similar to the prepositionsprepositions in both languages.
●
PostpositionsPostpositions in BanglaBangla and SylhetiSylheti are derived from nounsnouns and verbsverbs.
– NominalNominal postposition – pr iɔtdpr iɔtd (towards)
– VerbalVerbal postposition – tdtdhhekeeke (BanglaBangla), tdtdhhaakiki (SylhetiSylheti) (from)
– UnderivedUnderived postpositions – tonetone (SylhetiSylheti) (from)
● Most of the postpositionpostposition in SylhetiSylheti are from ArabicArabic and Persian.Persian. - bade (later)

119
Case : GenetiveGenetive
Sylheti Examples:
Gen. case noun Gen. noun gloss
/r/ baba babar of father
/ r/ɔ r kʃɔ ɔ r k rʃɔ ɔ ɔ of road
/tt rɔ / u inɸ ɽ u inɸ ɽ tt rɔ of girls

120
Case : ObjectiveObjective
Bangla objective case
Sylheti objective case
obj case noun obj.noun gloss
ke (sing.) baba babake To father
dd er (pl.) mejera mejedd er To girls
obj case noun obj.noun gloss
re ma mare To mother
re (with classi) mejeʈa mejeʈare To laides

121
Case : LocativeLocative
Bangla locative case
Sylheti locative case
Loc. case noun Loc.case gloss
e (con or
dip)
gʱɔr gʱɔre In the house
j (vowel) aʃa aʃaj In hope
Loc.case noun Loc.case gloss
o (con or dip) dd ukan dd ukano In the shop
td (vowel) gau gautd In the village

122
Common Classifiers Between Bangla and Sylheti
● ta : the classifier can be added with count and non-count nouns.
● Jon: used with animate noun
● With number preceeding animate noun
● Ra: added with noun
● Ra changes to der in Genetive and objective case
● In Sylheti ra changer to rar.

A Comparative Study of Bangla and Sylheti Grammar

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A Comparative Study of Bangla and Sylheti Grammar