Bengali language
Bengali (বাংলা, Bangla) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily in Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and the Barak Valley of Assam. It is the official language of Bangladesh and the second-most spoken language in India.[1] Bengali has a rich literary tradition and a significant cultural impact, particularly in South Asia.
| Bengali | |
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| Bengali script example | |
| Native Name | বাংলা (Bangla) |
| Region | South Asia |
| Speakers | 300 million (approx.) |
| Language Family | Indo-European → Indo-Iranian → Indo-Aryan |
| Writing System | Bengali script |
| Official Status | Bangladesh (national and official), India (official in West Bengal, Tripura, Assam) |
| ISO Codes | bn, ben |
| Script | Bengali script |
| Notable Works | Gitabitan by Rabindranath Tagore, Pather Panchali by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay |
| Website | Bengali Wikipedia |
History
Bengali developed from Magadhi Prakrit and Pali around the 7th century CE. By the 10th century, the language began to take its distinct shape. The Bengali Renaissance in the 19th century, centered in Kolkata, led to a surge in Bengali literature, with notable figures such as Rabindranath Tagore, who became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.[2]
Geographic distribution
Bengali is spoken by more than 230 million people in Bangladesh, where it is the national and official language.[3] In India, Bengali is one of the 22 scheduled languages, with around 100 million speakers concentrated mainly in West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam.[4]
Script
Bengali is written in the Bengali script, which is derived from the ancient Brahmi script. The script has its distinct characters and differs slightly from Devanagari, used for languages like Hindi and Marathi.[5]
Literature and culture
Bengali has a rich literary heritage, including poetry, novels, and short stories. Key works include Gitabitan by Rabindranath Tagore and Pather Panchali by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay. Tagore’s songs, known as Rabindra Sangeet, and Kazi Nazrul Islam's revolutionary writings are celebrated components of Bengali culture.[6]
Bengali in the digital age
With the rise of technology, Bengali content is becoming more accessible online. The Bengali Wikipedia and various digital platforms contribute to promoting the language and culture worldwide.[7]
See also
References
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- ↑ Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. "Population Census 2021," Government of Bangladesh.
- ↑ Chatterji, S.K. The Origin and Development of the Bengali Language. George Allen & Unwin, 1926.
- ↑ Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. "Population Census 2021," Government of Bangladesh.
- ↑ Ethnologue. "Bengali language." Accessed 2024.
- ↑ Dimock, Edward C. The Literatures of India: An Introduction. University of Chicago Press, 1974.
- ↑ Islam, Kazi Nazrul. Selected Poems of Kazi Nazrul Islam. University Press Limited, 2005.
- ↑ Bengali Wikipedia. "Bengali Language," accessed 2024.
Further reading
- Chatterji, S.K. The Origin and Development of the Bengali Language. George Allen & Unwin, 1926.
- Dimock, Edward C. The Literatures of India: An Introduction. University of Chicago Press, 1974.
- Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. "Population Census 2021," Government of Bangladesh.