Table Of Contentteach'
yourself
bengali
williamra dice
For 0\€. m !€€rs, nr)íe tran
lO Ínilllonp €ode hâle iearìt o\r'er
75O$ bircis üì€ lsech yoúlelí
\ ,aí withl mp€ssive Ìe$rlls,
be wtìee youw antt o be
wriht 6âcrl youÊêlÍ
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ForU ( oJdeeÌ nquidesp:l easec onlacBl ookpoiÍLúl d, 130M ihonP att,Á binodon,
0x0n,0 X144 sB.Ì elephone+:, u (0) 12358 27720F.ã : 144( 0) 12354 00454L.i nes
aÍeo p€n0 9,0È1 7.00M, ondalyo satudaÍ sirh ã 24-hoúm "Âssaoaer ÌswôÍinsoo r 5
viceD. èiailasb ouol uÍl illesa ndh owto oídoar rsa vailabâlâl s w.tmchvoursell.c0.uk
ForU S,oqÍ dsío nquirisds:a s conracMt ccnw-HiCll ustomSoro íúcêsP, OB ox5 45, t
Blackliclí,403H@ 4{54U5,S AT.e lsDho1n3â0:0 '722-47F2a6*.1 -ô14-755-5645. o
ForC anadoard 6èr nqúinepsle: as(èo nlarMr ccÍa\rr'lBilyl s6oLnl d,3 00W ateSr t,
\'Vhilbovn.Ì aÍloL.l 986C amda.Ìelèorone:905.305090005.4F3a0x 5020.
Longm nownÁed l hea ulhoÍhalsivoeu ÌcI.o! rs sllouidslsoa rnn-gw ith morctnãr 5
50m iill0cno olosso ld{o ndwid-e l hèl. .Dhr ourlcllseÍiiensc ludeosú fi5 00rU s n inlrodüctlon iI
ìheÍ eldso ll anquagccÍsa,Í tsh,o bbiâbsu, sinescso,m púna0n de ducation.
roipt diaoÍirÍs Íl t
BrilishL iDaryü talogúi4gin Públicàt?,/ril rj a calàlosur6rL ordlo r Ihht itleh avarl- o
ableiÍ dmlh 6B rldsLhr h'aru Dadr no rornd! aÍú acalpl I
Libntyo l CongÊsAsd og CardN unbeta: oltlq. 01 C l, I, u, ü, g, n, b, m, r, l; ru 2
qr(Ì),!(?Í)(,ì ),È o,ü o,r ,ì ,
Firspt ublisheIndU K2 007b yH oddêldr uÉtion,3 38E ustoFno adL, ondonN,W 13 BH-
Firspl ublÈheind U S2 007b yT heÍv lccraw'HCillo mpãnieInsc, . <,ï, ï,EtT
Thiss dìlìopnu blish2è0d0 7.
02 t4o,o,4Ír,sÍu I
The!. a!i yoürs.ltn amols â rooisl€Eìdm dem ãtk ú HoddeHr eadline.
q, s(ú ì),Ë ,Ì,ì,ì,Ì B
CopyioÍìi@19 942, 0{3,2 007W iliiamR adlm
/r U/í Alìí iqhlsr esoÍvsÀd-p aÍltr cma nyp erminsuds ru ndeUr Kc opyíohlta Ìvn, op aÍt rl3 c lô, y, í$ !úl
ol thisp ublicaüomna yb er eproducaodÍt Í ansmhâidn a nylo m or bya nym eânse,l ec- q((), {, n, r;Ìf
lÍonlc0 Í mâchanicianlD, ludinpOho tocopÍye,c ording0,Í anyln loÍmaiionst,o noea nd
Íeldevalsiystom,wilhoulpâínissioninwnünOlromrhepublisherorundsÍll$ncsto0m4 a,oü,hE 18
lhe Copyo htL icensinAqo sncLy lmllâdt.u rlhsÍd eiailso í suchli cence(sÍo rr epm-
gEphirco poducìiomna) ybeo bDineÍ0dm l heC opyrlgLli'lc ãnsiAnqqã ncliyÌi ed. q(Ò,è(cì),ïrq'
0l saíronH ouss6.- 10K irbvs rÌsèi.L ondoEnc lN 8 Ìs
05 ë,qdt 21
/n UsjA lln ohha sèdádE. rcepal sp eÍnltodu ndslrh sU níedS taleCs opynoA,Ì .t 0l
1976n, 0p âr0l l lhlsp ubliÉtiomn ayb ! rcpoduce0dÍ diíÍibutsdh Àny|o rmü byâ Íìy ü(ë),Ë(iì),q
meanso,f storedin a dalabasosr r âtdâvsâyl srems,ir hourrh ep Íiorì rvÍiÍonp emlsslon
00 1q t !q, !q 4u 24
Typossbry M acmiilâInnd iaL imikd dÌÔ,E,br r,s,g
PÍintodin G6t Brirainl0 Ì HoddeEr ducatloan d, lvisioÍo t HoddgHr cadtinaèn, Ha- 07 j, y,h ,.E,sv,q 28
chslLt€ lvmU KC ompaí3ìy3, 8 EusroRn oadL, ondonN,W 13 BHb, yC ox& vwron Lìd,
ReadinBo,o Íkshlre. q ìú),qtq,t ï,4
1siìlâs spr üobloliÍsrâhtdsho ri l sn u íìsise bdiro sob kãe cs etc nofrtEacvdro nudÍtaso c otinwsa utt Ílsúìe ìNt imtth oâo u íB !oLlnsÍo! tro c pxrressÍnsHtw. oewb-- 08 tÌ, ph,{ , Í; f, b 32
ewet c püblishoaÍn dlh 8a úhoíh âvân om spomibilittoyr ü ìeì rìlEbsita0nsd c ânm ako {,lF,s,Ytt,ï
n0l uaranh.t hãta siÌew illr emalnllw 0Í thâtlh oc ontsÍút ll mmâinrd Mn! decrnt
tÌ9 Í,õü,p,h,rE,d 3ô
H.chèitept oliwi s l0 usop apsísü ìlr Nron abnl,r ènwabLa ndn g/chblep mductg ï61,ë cìi,'t,t, q'a ,í
rnd madslr oms oodo osn in ruslainabÍloor ssL.T hsl oge 0 ândm múacÌuÍino
pÍ0c0s$5a roo QsclÉtd0 contoíÍt o rh. eNi.onmeÍbÍle lulaüonosí lhoc oudryo l 10 oÍ c, Hì; g!, É ,10
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YsaÌ 20122 0112 0102 0092 0082 047
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negatiovÍep astle nsetsim. e-tellainngdo cit
4,r,qD.,qrË,e
exercisEet; tÍanslalioííno mE nglìsehx ercise.
r, gh, dh;s lq4 !, ndh,Í , hr 48 m
ìt(.),ï , * ï, v, È r, È R m6allna! na ilal 127
convôrsawtolnth p aintoinrD olhÌ:Eg;ppaa$n iciple
13 rcview0 l Darol ío (coÍnoctlsnôon t8nccêosm, pouvnodr òss,t at6s,
tableo Íl etteÍSs;a ískÍitirica nslileraÍon advorbdso,u blpoo stpositio; pnêrsl )o ctle n se.
Padlv D conúÌ&ll0aní d! Íânmar 57 *rrE/kôê andp erfectot nseô xorcisô;ì!;,
partjcipolox crclse.
14 tlrdlÍ0o úla bodsomgonr 58
convelsâtiinoE na sLto ndon:iR,zAe; Ío 21 blkí! lo â 6hild 139
veÍbi;n terrogalpiveer;s onpaÍol nouns; convercaitnioK no lkatparie secnot ntinuoteuns se;
dem0nslÍapiirvoen ouanÍi.fÍ maiivr€e ply comparìsolinkse;/ disliCkeo.m parisaonndli ke./dislike
andd emonstraptrivoen ouenx ercise;ç, êxercistee;n see xercise.
q, ï, S; subject-compleemxeerncti se.
22 oolvallallolo na Lalrl 151
15 lalkiÍ!l o a Ìickshawallah 67
conversaatiioS na nlinike€tÌ apno: ssessive tíawllinwgi tÌaì s túdotnotC hithgono:V,ü,{S,
casea;ó -; definiaten iclieth ingsd)e; monstrative ''S, ld,Ì ï; paspt €íÍôctt ênsqv ôrbanl oun+ taoya;
adjoctivpaoì stposilioncas;s ee ndingÍso rw ords
adjoctivneesg; atiovfet h ez erove rbn.e gative
sndingin c oniunctpsa. spt ortôcatn dv orbal
slâtemeannt dd emonstntiavdoj eciiveex ercise;
woÍd-ordeexre rcise. noun+ yaoyaô xoírls8ç;1 ,l; adiêctival
pos$osltiooxno rciso.
16 buyinglr uiIa ||dv ololatles 78
conveÍsaaliota ns tall:ìr,D ,lF;d ìminuliavreti clei n tolliíca bri.r 162
indeÍinialeí licleh: own uch/nânyn, umherc: convebatwioiít ha story-tê,inle8 ri Íminohâsmimì ple
postpositionnusm. baení dp ostpositeioxne rcise; pastte nsev;ê ódn ouans a dlecti(vpeâ ssisveen lences);
el; answedqnuge sìioonxse rcise. wrlcáa nda r.yc; ompounvde Èsw ith@ /tneoyr.
17 linúinogü la boü$lc hools Which/any/soannedc llildrcns'st orye xercise;
conversaatitog nir lss' chobinls ylhetl4, ã, diary-wti noe xercise.
E;-Fn and-k hanap;a riicippiaols tpositions;
24 ml.lhga sdLr 171
locativelnslrumceansleap;ll uraolf p eísonnaol uns;
convo6atlownll hl ady-poIôntD hakËar;
ÍeÍlexipvero noupnr;e setnetn sep.r onouann dlo caiive
conditlonpaaln iclphloa;b ltupaal $t 6nsen;o ed.
caseex eÍcisl;e ;g ap-Íillienxge rcise.
Kolkamtae traon ds hoppinlisgt ( ne0d/obli0ation)
18 arnnginagv lsll 102 oxorciscoo; nciss6a Ít6ncô6t otclsc,
telepÌìonceo nveÍsaliionn K olkal6a,: BÌ, f, ïdÌ;
appointmeÍnuttsu;Í toe nsein; finitivoeb;j eccta se; 25 l.rndí! 8on!ôli 186
impersocnoanl slÍuclions,'paalsnoic' alen d conversãtiaobno ultê aminBge ngapli:a sct ontinuous
appointmeenxiesÍ cise;5,ïí,È Ì,ïl tensêe;x tendveedó st;ô dl (conditioncso)n. ditional
week-planenxino0Íc ise, senlencaen de xtendevde Íbe xeÍgisceo; nlinuous
19 healtahn dd let 11ã prcsee xercise.
conversaliino Rn ajshaÍh, ií:, ;F;t ellingth et ime; 21 nYlaYo l prd lro 201
0bli0atiomno: Íeim persocnoanl slíuclioimnsp:e rativel
numbed6a, tese,l c.v; eÍbla bles.
padlh roe rcadlngs 2íS F-ì
21 theÍ alloFbidâ ndtì 0 cal 220 LJ
q; tensree cognileioxne Ícìse.
II
28 SalllÍlala 226 5
Abanindíanaílahk'su rtalã:{; relative/correlative
pronouonG rcise. t
29 S.ryriiRl ay 234
ff/Ìen/ l|ass malA q, ê; tmnslatioÍíno m o'ï
Bengaslxi ercise.
30 Ir0orein E Íllaú 241 CL
LetteÍísro n Europe:-av',9q, onomatopeexiae rcise.
3't lhaE angladoìVari Ì 28 OÍ all úe malor languages oÍ the vrorld, Bengali (Bangla) tr
TheD ayso f 71.Á,ã: gnnnalicarle cognilion has been most neglectedb y foreign learners. It stands sixth o
6)GíCiSe. in úe world ia its numbeÍ of sp€akers,h as the richest and
SliÍrsurR rtman 2â7 most developed modern liteÍatuÍe in Souú Asia, wâs úe
+
pooms:q,âc onjunccot nsonaenxtse fcise;{. moúer-tongue of mary leadúg reformers and actiüsts of
19th ând 2Oth-century lndia, and is now úe national lan-
33 lhec omluo íl hem oíôool 26õ oIT
guage of Bangladeú and úe state language of West Bengal.
6uesbÍ yT a0oresã: dlr!, ra-$ãtr;F *, , R
There is a sizeableB eagali-speakingd iaspora, in India {espe-
ï, rR;s ãdlrü,â ãtãe xeÍcise. cially the eastern states of Assam atrd Tripura), the Middl€
3l JibrÍaÍaídDa as nl East, North Americâ and Britain. The East End of London 5
Poem4s l rf; Bergatl e BeaütiÍir.F4 has becomea s closely associatedw iú its Sylheti-Benpli pop
35 Ìóvlruo l Dâ lhÍlo 281 ulation as it once was with Hugu€not and Jewish migânts.
Bengali was the language oÍ Rabindranath Tagore, úe
coniundco nsonansìsã;d lu, ra-sãfo Íms;
greatest and best known modern South Asian writer; and it
Muslim/Hidnidsutj ncÌiovnosw; ehla rmony
was the lânguâge of India's most celebrated film-maket,
talh0 lt lürlher 2S? Sâtyâjit Rây. Bengâli scientists, doctors and acâdemics âre
ley to lhae reÍtisos 297 pÍomircnt âll oveÍ Souú Àsiâ, ând in Europe and Nonh
Betlqali-Engglllsohs eaÌy x12 AmeÍicâ. Yet despite its size, literâry weelth, historicâl im-
portânce âItd gÍovring contemporâry pÍofile, theÍe ere still
Enoli$h-BéÍlllaolsl sâty 359 remârkâbly few Íacilities for Íoreigners to learn it well.
lrammaliclaúlr x 400 Britain has only one university lectureship in Bengali, and
acloowled0emo[b 4V. lectureshios in otheÍ countries outside South Asia can be
counted oì the fngers of one hand.
The samec an be said of books Êom which to learn Beruali.
kfore úe SecondW orld Var, there were perhapsm ore grãm-
mârs ând couÍse books Íor Bengali úan Íor oúer modern
South Àsiân lânguâges.T he Revd Williâm Sutton PâgeÍ ân â
department oÍ Bengali at úe School of Oriental and African
Studies, and produced a number of pioÍeering woÍkq his
effons $r'eÍee xtended by ProfessorT . W. Clark, who brieÍly
held a uaique london UniveÍsily Chair in B€ngali from 1967
until his death ir\ 1969, aad by Dr Târapadâ MukheÍjee.
Vo"a*ãi".anbà.'""iÍJnn-rãeãaeãr *e "SiJoe, ce.iis.àr ioduãt * t ii tÁe..ar€n.do. üafe*r i" oü ul.bn dreSi"i' ad p"iK - 'e,, ., b"edmntirËuftr 'a."a "a.oemua.o"'uspt it* "t.in eaâ nhì"saPB- t,"d'Ígv.tn*iiô ptreaeCu .h" r oHp p irgnanbv'liu"Teeg".ao.a ton" nt )ahÍaan.sÍI"s. Le O ce htnhhr hôwreaeButiamiiphr ewrneeguvea à5e rdgte{wta kl ehiwo DDslcesâaae iA ohc srrÍwsnd iinhiaS ba nMdc nMrcagio lh ocrwstueúraoihi ou ynkrniehiekrhnrrihg reen siraÊrees hAidrgrermtreh€l ii ed i PlexrexletCvisnhteaâercds mt leeì nsbeaa' a ow cs t yfìersfn.torlask eekúoBltds In oh maao m e tata eoÍcdehnpna'rw -t h oxaagerhmdn âoetlavcsç do'Íàd rMlehhea i gs)sa kup ì 'na ttuo }eenehhch dìg-urvBcm iâeek lvPoneoalt eori ei eldom erntonntdhiaÌr tfgEgegreeei.onteem vwhanyonrderetlt-eis ú"tn-âlúalwúafucs"óirelirsdiicehlstt"Í.eav crì.uãtoloarr deepbmastàiá ..no"udr.n i p talh bnmo.e fttt"no "ayalyckS rnnrea. r e vo".uaei c ne ef'Íi'isdMn.rúheip sb"o âàiaeeì t paSevms ,".üeVtnh*e f-ara r, i"utâo.ns" fhL upateisKw Pbtee.il; nh nalorrv ffpyttioiuogvBoaã nhol iCfl remik etuaeFhrn*oah,âsnsrsenpi aÍsuaPi.is lcrn,a lir aau oooÍÍfaids Yoin,cwdvrSnlSh (t dugâihri uaiimocaoosst sturÍler ntl ümsmeep ÍovBl tiimh chnea. KmoBiiG I noKemsr g iuh tsl h r.aueH havm daopIuzniae noifsnrlanihdtnrae .Mstaaryg oiAokmvs cclD -u kopf âiuaâ p hi Mitfeã1liÌlinl€â r llnri 9súi ucdcBPmtrn. 9haeyrk nageA"P0vetap eâhn r f.-nMa 'ir sÌop ieiPúí-uedonsearutreâhÍc. nih icnahc pendyatP.eo oudiià eÍdatsTlr âÍaslsthn i d anamìbtnfh nfaditrrdlre ooKrsdne l (wS tRNat h. g'uâ oi O-osunIaou mtrp t uahtauinhmrArniualmãfvaokedS-uâlret's-rl'
as easy and enjoyable to leam as Possible. usersw ill not besiraretõ ler me know of any remainingm isrâÌes
Thi. is â coursei n speâkingw. ritrng and-readingç tandâJd.Ben- oÍ unclaÍiiieso r omissions.
eali. I[ as'unes úat ânv àÍempl ro go beyonclâ PhÍaseD oor(
v. R.
ino*ledee musr teachú e rcrig clearlva nd fLrì\' Ìut â Purely
'readineL Ìowledee' of Bengaliwouldn or onlv negìeoú e ton- i"hoàl oÍ Oriental and Àftican Studies, Universitv of London'
dertu Ãusic ot its sounds,ir would alsoì eareu rexPlànedm àDy 1993
dreisaccrheepsúa en csieobsue nrdwseo et nBs pinegllaill1i wga inthd pcr-oanreua.n sc wlaerlilo ansS rotsi hs cÈr icPolua rnsde Note on the frrst íe?rint (1995)
oà^-"c ,"a the accompanvingr ecordingi s irtegral At rhe Additional rhanks are due to ProÍessorP abitra Sarkaq whose
ilaemveet tsoi rÍn ere,la hòanvee at rniedd u rnod eenrasbtalenr hdeinl egla.n r ntheirst.o ap sr iong oreúsestro âhÚrgnnse'I r uhiarive.n".a"Íbrìne dtm 'e,e rwo mina tkhee a S ntdutm?sbmeÍao nlfc iãmlgpuroftvee.2m8e Jnâtnsau nâdr cy1o 9rr9e5c)-
lr". uÃ" i"n"i*.a by Dr MukharjeeÍ\e elinsrh arú e leâP' ,úlï'JãÇui" et,, *e mosts harp-evedo f mv studentsin úe
berweena ny courser n Bengalit hen aÌâilâbleà nd readÌnga teÍ' 6rst yearo Í úe book! use.
.eurisn ( u"n oJe."s"tosli reoy. th ap*"pte n,eodoto g breea stpa enadk deirssop Íi raitnirogt hÍoerí s mouotslrr lAesaÉrnn- Not2 on the 2OO3c dìtio'
language,. Funherc onectjonsh aveb eenm aderthereadingli Íonpp 29't-6
Thosew ho want pnmàrily io \P€âkB engati, who are pìanning hasb eenSu pilhdeatrie dst;aa nt"d" ú, esi necxee1 Ío9s9e5o ,a ni Pa pd 9iv9is-1io0n0o nf oBwâ nta8klâedsa ecs-h'
ro m to Benealtov isit or work. or who arer n coDtaclw ìtn Ì'en- -""rot
ãfi.à.""íit* .çvvt'ere, mav feelú at thev do not wrsh to No/- on thê 2007 càitiorl
ãraker his leap:t har a novels ound-svst€m.s cript' grammaÍa nd The whole book hâsb eenr e{eÍ elecúonicâllyA s well as some
iDvra.o.an.c*sda"m âibn uagìya o hr-yfaia * Bv rèeer e npong" wota waügflif rtrt,."a etBhm,u amttI ú naueoÍÍ .sú8 wcneÌrliyt ithPi Íeìtgá wmsni l adoJof Pú Ttrelãooygn oburreeneÊd co nâiÍâ euJti inihboteaeniDrob' â'uuu ttnrm tadhteeredvFyâ fbã(ühpeÍr"etoihln"uega gr dc rãdrooÌeítu"Ídteti,t.ca ""tni odo asa nni.e dw" u"'*pT dâakKtioenìsgtaa. itnta El,u ntagtnhldies rthh' -siBs€c ehtrnaogsn ab'G lei Iel obnse as odâoÍntpycht-erâ adsr
wiU i *t'ã1. new imaginarivew orld. breathtakirsi n
it. ri"*"oó*o "t.r t"ti..v detichi. And theü combinede ndeav- I am very Stalehrlr o Dr llanne-Ruth Thompsonf or her expen
i". t'.t"on dto *-ed beauiieso f B€ngali knorlÍr to lovers of help witÈ úe Englisb-BengaGü lossary'
lang'u7alitg e and lite-*ráa ture everywhere.
Otthe many friendswhoh avea ssistedm e,l shouldspeciallvli ke
ã ,'ft""f. iiáf.** t"t of the Depanmemo f Bengali
ât the UniÍersityo f Ch"iirtÍuazgzoatmrgaw' nh' ereI wâs invitedt o woÍk on
Script diagrams
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In Memoriam
TARÁÌADA MUKHERJEE
11928-9O)
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The languageso f South Asia are richly endowed with sounds,
paÍicuÌâÍly consonants; and the Hindus were the 6Ìst people in
the world to reâlize that the sounds of a language can be
grouped scienrifically according to where and how they are
made ia the rnouú. Unlile the Greek and Roman alohabets-
which follow a hâphazardo Íder Indian scriptsa re ba'ed on a
logicalt abìeo f lener': vowels6 rst. rhen the'velar'consonants,
th€ 'palatâl' consonânts,t he 'retro[ex' coÍsonants and so on.
The Bengali script, like other Souú Asian scrips (except Urdu)
was originâlly devisedÍ or úe writing of Sanskrit. Âs úe modern
Indo-Aryan languagesd eveloped( growing not exactly ÍÌom San-
6krit but Írom the PrakÍits, the spoken languages of aqcient
Indiâ), regional varieties oÍ what was essentially the sâme writ-
ing systemw eÍe usedt o write úem down. Nowadays Sanskrit is
usually wriften and printed ií Detanàgarì, tl'e súipt thât is âlso
used for Hindi. But it carì tust âs vrell be writt€n in the Bmgâli
script, and when Bengali children learn their letters, they learn
them accoÍding to ú€ Sanskrit sequence.
A q) The complete table oí letten will be foünd in the Revie* section
ât the end of Part One. You will need to know it otherwise vou
v won't be able to us€ â Bengali dictionary. In the first 12 ünits,
N hoqrever,y ou'll be introduced to the sourds and letters accord-
ing to a different s€querce.T here are ttuee reasonsf or this. First,
s2
I have found from my experience oÍ teaching Bengali that it is
tr best to begin with sounds that are easy for foreigners to make,
ití
and progressg radually to more diÍÉcult sounds. Second,i t is im-
1
portant to pÍâctise the sounds by repeating words and phrases,
v El not by pronouncing them irÌ isolâtion. Th€re aÍe very few words
GT made of vowels alone, whiú is what you would stârt with ií you
I foüowed the traditional sequence.T hir4 the pronunciâtiotr of
t
Bengali does not 6t the spelling p€Ífectly. The mis-mâtch
'6
betweens pelling and pronunciâtion is nothing like as gÌeât âs in
f
Englsh. bur ir is enoughr o ma[e Bengalip ronuncmtionq úte
tricky, hârder than Hindi. Boú languages have essentially
'Sanskritic' spelling systems, but Bengali has diveÍged from its
-ct
"9 classical roots more than Hindi. It is essential to explain and
;J learn Bengali sounds and scrìpt with care. IÍ I followed the tradi-
tional table, I would have to begin by conÍusing you with the
letter that causesm ore pronunciation problems than any oth€rl
!^
We begin wiú thÍee vowel sounds. The frst vowel is very much
-l
úe sound you mal.e when the doctor wants ro examiney our
^al
-'t a as in Enelish stl/
4l
2 Í a syllable consists oÍ a consonant Íolowed by a vowel,
The seconda lso approximates to ân English soündl
vowel signs are used.
i âs in EngÌish ses
To seeh ow this works, let's tust of all learn the letters for the Êve
The úird sound does not reâlly exist in most pronunciations of consonantsa bove. You need to learn to write úem, and aÌso to
Enr,[sh,b ur iÍ you rake the'oo'sound in uoo, and push your recognizet hem ìn print. You'll seea t once that printed forms are
lipi rigir torward as if you werew hi.ding. you will get ir: not always quite the same as hand-written Íorms, and oÍ course
U hand"writing styles vary. If you want to acquire elegant Bengali
handwritìng, the best thing is to 6nd a native speaker who can
Unlike most peopleì pronunciariono f English oo', Bengahu rs têâch you, You can âlso acquiÍe hand-writing books such as
a pare .ound: i.è. rhe ìips do nor move wh€n uÍeÍing it Most Bengali schoolchildren use. For the sequenceo Í strokes, reÍer to
Enqlishv owefsoundsa ie impure:r hey slideÍ rom one sound to the diagÍams on pp. xii-Íiii. You will seet hat some letters (e.g.
another.T hrs js often reflectedin Engtishs pelling:b reaÈ./ ear' the l) beginw ith â smalll oop or'blob':
,odt, etc. en pÌonouncing Bengali 4 i, u, make sure úat the
soundsa re absolutelyp ure. Handwriting Print
Here are four consonants, none of which should cause any
q
diÍiculty:
g as in EngÌish get bï
n âs in English /rot
b as in English boze rï
m as ìn English rn t
4
The next sound should be rolled or 'trilled' as in Scotso Í Italian -
If you wânt to write a on its own, you need the füÍ vowel:
but donì overdo it. At the end oÍ woÍds, particularlt the tongre
ÍÌaps only once or twice: a t9lÍ !Ít (tu vow€l)
t as inltalixr Roma This letter is also used iÍ the syllable consists of a vowel +
The lâí sound is perfectly familiar to English sPeâken.b ur
make sure you alwiyr pronouncei t ât rhe front of rhe mourh: an t9llÍ qìï
I as in Énglish lez4 n€v€Í âs in English ill A much morc common s€quence,h owever, is â consoaânt +
Whenp ronouncingB engalci onsonantos n úeir own. or when re- vowel, and you'll be relieved to learn that the vowel sign is
ferrinet o úem in ordert o speìÌâ word oÍ name,i t ú custonÌary siÍnply ì. Thus:
to eiü them a foìlowrne võweì-sound - the so-ca[ed iú€'€trt ga 5n rÍÌ
vovielr . pronounceda si n BritibhE ngÜshro r. (Therew ill bem ore
na
about the inherent vowel in Unit 2.) The advântâgeo f.his is úat
vou don't have to leam namesÍ or the letters. You simply say: ina !Ì {Ì
gt mt SoÍ âr so good. With i and u, howev.r therea re two complica-
nt r:,
bt lr
g Each oÍ these sounds cân be represented by one or other of
You now need to leam úe Bengâli letters Íor the voweÌs and two lettersI.n Sânskritt,h erei s a'short'iând a'Ìong'i, â
conson.nts abov€. All South Asiân scripts (except Urdu, which 'short' u andâ'long' u. Inth€ standârdRomant rânsliterâtion
ie lcreian in origin) follow t\r'o bâsic principi€s: oÍ Sânskrit( seep . 55), thesea re distìnguishedb y the useo Í a
bar or 'macron' over the long vowels, and I propose to adopt
I Ií o ryllablc consistso fa vowel alone,o r a vowel {ollowedb y
the sâme convention here. The tanscÍiption system used in
4 co|rsonant, firll vowels ar€ us€d.
this book derives, with some moúfrcations, ÍÍom úe work oÍ nouns and adjectives. You have already seen the first Íour
ProÍessorT \V, Clark (seeI ntro&rction, p. ix). It boÍows letters
Írom úe International PhoneticÁ lphabet, but it is a tÍânsÌiter-
ation in úât ii indicât€s preciselyw hiú leaen shouìd be used
in witins words in BensaliÍ riDt. The disrinctìonb eween aÌn amra niina w€ do not
rhort'an"d long land u r-nB engaihi a' not suruiuedin Bengali ma take
pronuncialion,b ut is stil píesenri n Bengalsi pelìingT. hur for na am anun *ín9 6ome)
two soundsw e have Íour left€$ ând vortel signst o leâm. 9a mangos.
Bengâli is reâd, like English, ftom left to dght; but the vowel nanì nun niÍ? wltak
srsnsd o not necessarilyío llow tbe consonânÌo n rhe pà8e. gan sor?9 (some)s aft?
The voweìs ignf or the rbort i i5 wrinen búl" lhe consolÌanlr alnar my nin nâ Pleaset ake
the s;gnf or úe long i is written r/t./ rhec onsonantti he sì8ns abaa again çomq.
for rhes hort and lonp.u are wrinen á?Iop the consoDànr: bagan Ini âmaÍ ma She is my
âmi notheÍ
i? R (tull vowel)
uniamar Hei s ny
I I
(vowel sign) lni martâ (rnatenal)
ii t (Â vowel) unl uncle.
rumal amarnam My namei s
Ì Ì (vowel sign)
n raul Raul.
uB (Íull vowel) hl üÍ|ü ruÍtÉ,l Taken y
(vowels ign) m0l nin handkerchieí
amianlni I did not bing uniuÍnar /s he Umâ's
ü€ {Íull vowel)
amianlam / b,'oughl baba? fathd?
{vow€Ì sign) unraniini we clicln ot n4 uniíimir No, l,eb EimiS
Syllablesc onsistingo Í, sây,b + i, I, u' oÍ ü would be wrinen bâbâ
asf ollows:
biftÊ
Now see iÍ you can write the words ând phrases aboye in
bi {Ìr ì Bengâlì script. Ìf a vowel comes b€tween two coÌÌsonants, it is
bugi always thought of as 'belonging' to the consonant before, not
Mal úe consonart lhâr íollos5. Thus amar is wrinen â-ÌÍÌâr,n ol
dn-âÌ:
You are now ready to start pronouncìng, reading ând vtÌiting cÌ{ï
some Bengali words and phrases.
If a vowel follows a vowel, it has to be written as a full vowel:
Exercises so niina is written nl-l-na:
frïÌ
1 Practise saying úe words and phrases overleaf with the
help of the recording oÍ the previous few pages.I n this and in The sequencer followed by u âs in rumal geneÍally has a spe-
all th€ nrst (sound)€x eÍcìseisn Udts 1 to 12, you ne€dn ot cial letter-form, perhaps becauset he ordinary vowel sign for
worry abouta nalysingth e grammar.B y the end ofúe book. u Q would interfere with the dot in ï:
you wrll be abler o do so, ând you lì know abourd istinctions ï+B= ? F
betwcen, Íor example, the differ€nt pronouns for ré ând sre.
For thê moment, hoÌveve! concentÍeteo n produciÌÌg th€ right { however, do€s occuÌ in some modern typeÍaces.
sound, and on picking up vocabulary items - pânicuÌarly Keys to this and subsequente xercisesa re on pp. 297-311.
