|
Teaching Truth in Bengali |
Teaching
Truth in Bengali |
Bengali Grammar
Summary and Review
Declension of Nouns,
Pronouns, and Verbs
Numbers and Time
Study Review with Questions
and Answers
*
*
© 1994-2017 Jaspell (Jasper Burford and Ellen Burford
2 Pilcox Hall Lane,
Tendring, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex CO16 0DL
(44) (0) 1255 830825
(44) (0) 7949 250403
burford@jaspell.uk
Page Subject
3 Introduction
3 Styles
3 Scripts
3 Pronunciation Hints
4 The Bengali Alphabet
4 Sound Chart
5 Pronunciation of Vowels
6 Pronunciation of Consonants
8 Writing of Syllables
8 Leading Vowel Forms
9 Trailing Vowel Forms
11 Hints on Special Pronunciation
12 Declension of Singular Pronouns (Grammar 23.3)
14 Declension of Plural Pronouns (Grammar 23.4)
16 Notes on Declension of Pronouns and Nouns (Grammar 23.5)
18 Verbs like “karaa” “করা” (Grammar 53.3)
22 Verbs like “khaaoyaa” “খাওয়া” (Grammar 53.4)
26 Verbs like “garjaano” “গর্জানো” (Grammar 53.5)
30 Verb
families declined for “tui” “তুই”
and “toraa” “তোরা” (Grammar 53.6)
32 Cardinal Numbers: Zero, One, Two, Three … (Grammar 57.1)
35 Fractions (Grammar 57.2)
37 Ordinal Numbers First, Second, Third.... (Grammar 57.3)
39 Approximation (Grammar 57.4)
40 Months and Seasons (Grammar 58.1)
42 Dates (Grammar 58.2)
43 Times
44-74 Study Review with Questions and Answers
The writer is very grateful to precious friends for their
assistance in the preparation and refinement of the material published in this
book.
Bengali Styles
The common or “chalito bhaasaa” style of Bengali is given
first.
Where the Bengali word in literary or classical “sadhu bhaasaa”
style is different from the chalito form, this is given after it in round
brackets and in italics—like (করিব kariba).
Two Bengali Scripts - Bengali Script
and Romanized
Bengali meanings are given both in Bengali script and in a
Romanized form.
Romanized Form
This helps beginners to use the language until they have mastered
the script. The romanized form differs
from systems used by other writers but has the advantage of providing a
consistent system of phonetic conversion from Bengali script that represents
each Bengali character element precisely and uniquely. Its appearance reflects the pronunciation
closely—after accepting a few simple transcription rules.
Pronunciation Hints
Hints are sometimes given in round brackets and after a
tilda. They are in Romanized script and in
italics—like (~“ag’gaa”). This is
usually when words have ceased being pronounced truly phonetically. In most of these cases two consonants are
joined into “conjuncts”, and the initial consonant is emphasized while the
trailing consonant is effectively lost. See
sections below on “Bengali Alphabet” and “Hints on Special Pronunciation”.
|
CLASSIFICATION OF BENGALI
SOUNDS |
|
|
C O N
S O N A N
T S |
V O W
E L S |
||||||
|
Family |
Hard |
Soft |
Soft |
Soft |
Hard |
|
|
|
|
|
Held Huffed |
Held Huffed |
Nasals |
Semi- vowels |
Spirants |
Short |
Long |
Diphthongs |
|
Guttural |
ka | kha |
ga | gha |
n¹a |
ha |
hha |
a |
aa |
e | ei,
ee, oy |
|
|
||||||||
|
Palatal |
ca | cha |
ja | jha |
n²a |
ya |
sha |
i |
Ii |
|
|
|
|
|||||||
|
Cerebral |
ta | tha |
da | dha |
na |
ra |
sa |
rri |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
|
|
ra | rha |
|
ya |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
Dental |
ta | tha |
da | dha |
na |
La |
sa |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||
|
Labial |
pa | pha |
ba | bha |
ma |
ba |
hha |
u |
uu |
o | oo,
au |
|
|
||||||||
|
Others |
|
|
n° |
n^ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
VOWELS |
|||||
|
INDEPENDENT OR INITIAL VOWELS |
SHAPE BEHIND A CONSONANT (SUCH AS
BEHIND “প” “pa”) |
||||
|
Character |
Roman |
Sounds like … |
… as in the English word |
|
|
|
্ |
(no
vowel) |
|
(no
sound) |
প্ |
p [“p' ”] |
|
অ |
a |
short “a” short “o” |
(inherent
a) “wander” “off” |
প |
pa |
|
আ |
aa |
long “a” |
“far” |
পা |
paa |
|
অ্যা |
a |
flat “a” |
“apple” |
প্যা |
pa, pyaa |
|
ই |
i |
short “i” |
“fill” |
পি |
pi |
|
ঈ |
ii |
long “i” |
“feel” |
পী |
pii |
|
উ |
u |
short “u” |
“pull” |
পু |
pu |
|
ঊ |
uu |
long “oo” |
“pool” |
পূ |
puu |
|
ঋ |
rri |
short “ri” |
“triple” |
পৃ |
prri |
|
এ |
e |
short “e” |
“egg” |
পে |
pe |
|
ঐ |
ee |
long “oi” |
“boil” |
পৈ |
pee [“poi”] |
|
ও |
o |
short “o” |
“on” |
পো |
po |
|
ঔ |
oo |
long “o” |
“owner”,
“now” |
পৌ |
poo [“pau/pow”] |
|
ং |
nº |
nasal “ng” |
“singer” |
পং |
pan° [“pang”] |
|
ঃ |
hh |
abrupt “h” |
“Judah” |
পঃ |
pahh |
|
ঁ |
^ |
|
nasal
faintly as in French “non” |
পঁ |
p^a [“pan”] |
|
CONSONANTS |
||||
|
Group |
Char-acter |
Roman Form |
Sounds like … |
… as in the English word |
|
Guttural
|
ক্ |
k |
“k” |
“keen” |
|
-
in the throat |
খ্ |
kh |
“kh” |
“rockhead” |
|
|
গ্ |
g |
“g” |
“get” |
|
|
ঘ্ |
gh |
“gh” |
“slagheap” |
|
|
ঙ্ |
n¹ |
“n” |
“donkey” |
|
Palatal |
চ্ |
c |
“ch” |
“chair” |
|
-
on the palate |
ছ্ |
ch |
chh” |
“matchhead” |
|
|
জ্ |
j |
“j” |
“enjoy” |
|
|
ঝ্ |
jh |
“dgeh” |
“hedgehog” |
|
|
ঞ্ |
n² |
“n” |
“pinch” |
|
Cerebral |
ট্ |
t |
“t” |
“alter” |
|
-
on the roof |
ঠ্ |
th |
“th” |
“malthouse” |
|
of the mouth |
ড্ |
d |
“d” |
“Dad” |
|
|
ড়্ |
r |
“rr” |
“barred” |
|
|
ঢ্ |
dh |
“dh” |
“goldhammer” |
|
|
ঢ়্ |
rh |
“rrh” |
“myrrh lump” |
|
|
ণ্ |
n |
“n” |
“inlaid” |
|
Dental |
ত্ (ৎ) |
t |
“t” |
“ant” |
|
-
on the teeth |
থ্ |
th |
“th” |
“warthog” |
|
|
দ্ |
d |
“d” |
“beds” |
|
|
ধ্ |
dh |
“dh” |
“redheads” |
|
|
ন্ |
n |
“n” |
“bending” |
|
Labial |
প্ |
p |
“p” |
“peace” |
|
-
on the lips |
ফ্ |
ph |
“ph” |
“uphold” |
|
|
ব্ |
b,v,w |
“b” |
“bob”(“swim, twin”) |
|
|
ভ্ |
bh |
“bh” |
“nibholder” |
|
|
ম্ |
m |
“m” |
“meet” |
|
|
য্ |
y |
“j” |
“jog” |
|
Forward |
য়্ |
y |
“y” |
“yes” |
|
semi-vowels |
র্ |
r |
“r” |
“right” |
|
|
ল্ |
l |
“l” |
“love” |
|
Sibillants |
শ্ |
sh |
“sh” |
“ship” |
|
|
ষ্ |
s |
“sh” |
“washtub” |
|
|
স্ |
s |
“sh” |
“ensure” |
|
Guttural semi-vowel |
হ্ |
h |
“h” |
“heart” |
Vowel Leading Form: Independent
or as Initial Followed by a Non-Vowel
|
|
LEADING
VOWEL FORMS |
|||||
|
|
+n° |
+hha |
+^ |
+p` |
+pa,
etc. |
+rpa,
etc. |
|
a+ |
অং |
অঃ |
অঁ |
অপ্ |
অপ |
অর্প |
|
aa+ |
আং |
আঃ |
আঁ |
আপ্ |
আপ |
আর্প |
|
a+ |
অ্যাং |
অ্যাঃ |
অ্যাঁ |
অ্যাপ্ |
অ্যাপ |
অ্যার্প |
|
i+ |
ইং |
ইঃ |
ইঁ |
ইপ্ |
ইপ |
ইর্প |
|
ii+ |
ঈং |
ঈঃ |
ঈঁ |
ঈপ্ |
ঈপ |
ঈর্প |
|
u+ |
উং |
উঃ |
উঁ |
উপ্ |
উপ |
উর্প |
|
uu+ |
ঊং |
ঊঃ |
ঊঁ |
ঊপ্ |
ঊপ |
ঊর্প |
|
rri+ |
ঋং |
ঋঃ |
ঋঁ |
ঋপ্ |
ঋপ |
ঋর্প |
|
e+ |
এং |
এঃ |
এঁ |
এপ্ |
এপ |
এর্প |
|
ee+ |
ঐং |
ঐঃ |
ঐঁ |
ঐপ্ |
ঐপ |
ঐর্প |
|
o+ |
ওং |
ওঃ |
ওঁ |
ওপ্ |
ওপ |
ওর্প |
|
oo+ |
ঔং |
ঔঃ |
ঔঁ |
ঔপ্ |
ঔপ |
ঔর্প |
|
n°+ |
- |
- |
- |
ংপ্ |
ংপ |
- |
|
hh+ |
- |
- |
- |
ঃপ্ |
ঃপ |
- |
|
^+ |
- |
- |
- |
ঁপ্ |
ঁপ |
- |
Vowel Trailing (Also referred to as “Vowel Form Following a
Consonant”)
|
|
TRAILING VOWEL FORMS |
||||||||||||
|
|
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
+ |
|
k... |
ক্ |
ক |
কা |
কি |
কী |
কু |
কূ |
কৃ |
কে |
কৈ |
কো |
কৌ |
কং |
|
kh.. |
খ্ |
খ |
খা |
খি |
খী |
খু |
খূ |
খৃ |
খে |
খৈ |
খো |
খৌ |
খং |
|
g... |
গ্ |
গ |
গা |
গি |
গী |
গু |
গূ |
গৃ |
গে |
গৈ |
গো |
গৌ |
গং |
|
gh.. |
ঘ্ |
ঘ |
ঘা |
ঘি |
ঘী |
ঘু |
ঘূ |
ঘৃ |
ঘে |
ঘৈ |
ঘো |
ঘৌ |
ঘং |
|
n¹.. |
ঙ্ |
ঙ |
ঙা |
ঙি |
ঙী |
ঙু |
ঙূ |
ঙৃ |
ঙে |
ঙৈ |
ঙো |
ঙৌ |
ঙং |
|
c... |
চ্ |
চ |
চা |
চি |
চী |
চু |
চূ |
চৃ |
চে |
চৈ |
চো |
চৌ |
চং |
|
ch.. |
ছ্ |
ছ |
ছা |
ছি |
ছি |
ছু |
ছূ |
ছৃ |
ছে |
ছৈ |
ছো |
ছৌ |
ছং |
|
j... |
জ্ |
জ |
জা |
জি |
জী |
জু |
জূ |
জৃ |
জে |
জৈ |
জো |
জৌ |
জং |
|
jh.. |
ঝ্ |
ঝ |
ঝা |
ঝি |
ঝী |
ঝু |
ঝূ |
ঝৃ |
ঝে |
ঝৈ |
ঝো |
ঝৌ |
ঝং |
|
n².. |
ঞ্ |
ঞ |
ঞা |
ঞি |
ঞী |
ঞু |
ঞূ |
ঞৃ |
ঞে |
ঞৈ |
ঞো |
ঞৌ |
ঞং |
|
t... |
ট্ |
ট |
টা |
টি |
টী |
টু |
টূ |
টৃ |
টে |
টৈ |
টো |
টৌ |
টং |
|
th.. |
ঠ্ |
ঠ |
ঠা |
ঠি |
ঠী |
ঠু |
ঠূ |
ঠৃ |
ঠে |
ঠৈ |
ঠো |
ঠৌ |
ঠং |
|
d... |
ড্ |
ড |
ডা |
ডি |
ডী |
ডু |
ডূ |
ডৃ |
ডে |
ডৈ |
ডো |
ডৌ |
ডং |
|
dh.. |
ঢ্ |
ঢ |
ঢা |
ঢি |
ঢী |
ঢু |
ঢূ |
ঢৃ |
ঢে |
ঢৈ |
ঢো |
ঢৌ |
ঢং |
|
r... |
ড়্ |
ড় |
ড়া |
ড়ি |
ড়ী |
ড়ু |
ড়ূ |
ড়ৃ |
ড়ে |
ড়ৈ |
ড়ো |
ড়ৌ |
ড়ং |
|
rh.. |
ঢ়্ |
ঢ় |
ঢ়া |
ঢ়ি |
ঢ়ী |
ঢ়ু |
ঢ়ূ |
ঢ়ৃ |
ঢ়ে |
ঢ়ৈ |
ঢ়ো |
ঢ়ৌ |
ঢ়ং |
|
n... |
ণ্ |
ণ |
ণা |
ণি |
ণী |
ণু |
ণূ |
ণৃ |
ণে |
ণৈ |
ণো |
ণৌ |
ণং |
|
t... |
ত্=ৎ |
ত |
তা |
তি |
তী |
তু |
তূ |
তৃ |
তে |
তৈ |
তো |
তৌ |
তং |
|
th.. |
থ্ |
থ |
থা |
থি |
থী |
থু |
থূ |
থৃ |
থে |
থৈ |
থো |
থৌ |
থং |
|
d... |
দ্ |
দ |
দা |
দি |
দী |
দু |
দূ |
দৃ |
দে |
দৈ |
দো |
দৌ |
দং |
|
dh.. |
ধ্ |
ধ |
ধা |
ধি |
ধী |
ধু |
ধূ |
ধৃ |
ধে |
ধৈ |
ধো |
ধৌ |
ধং |
|
n... |
ন্ |
ন |
না |
নি |
নী |
নু |
নূ |
নৃ |
নে |
নৈ |
নো |
নৌ |
নং |
|
p... |
প্ |
প |
পা |
পি |
পী |
পু |
পূ |
পৃ |
পে |
পৈ |
পো |
পৌ |
পং |
|
ph.. |
ফ্ |
ফ |
ফা |
ফি |
ফী |
ফু |
ফূ |
ফৃ |
ফে |
ফৈ |
ফো |
ফৌ |
ফং |
|
b... |
ব্ |
ব |
বা |
বি |
বী |
বু |
বূ |
বৃ |
বে |
বৈ |
বো |
বৌ |
বং |
|
bh.. |
ভ্ |
ভ |
ভা |
ভি |
ভী |
ভু |
ভূ |
ভৃ |
ভে |
ভৈ |
ভো |
ভৌ |
ভং |
|
m... |
ম্ |
ম |
মা |
মি |
মী |
মু |
মূ |
মৃ |
মে |
মৈ |
মো |
মৌ |
মং |
|
y... |
য্ |
য |
যা |
যি |
যী |
যু |
যূ |
যৃ |
যে |
যৈ |
যো |
যৌ |
যং |
|
y... |
য়্ |
য় |
য়া |
য়ি |
য়ী |
য়ু |
য়ূ |
য়ৃ |
য়ে |
য়ৈ |
য়ো |
য়ৌ |
য়ং |
|
r... |
র্ |
র |
রা |
রি |
রী |
রু |
রূ |
|
রে |
রৈ |
রো |
রৌ |
রং |
|
l... |
ল্ |
ল |
লা |
লি |
লী |
লু |
লূ |
লৃ |
লে |
লৈ |
লো |
লৌ |
লং |
|
sh.. |
শ্ |
শ |
শা |
শি |
শী |
শু |
শূ |
শৃ |
শে |
শৈ |
শো |
শৌ |
শং |
|
s... |
ষ্ |
ষ |
ষা |
ষি |
ষী |
ষু |
ষূ |
ষৃ |
ষে |
ষৈ |
ষো |
ষৌ |
ষং |
|
s |
স্ |
স |
সা |
সি |
সী |
সু |
সূ |
সৃ |
সে |
সৈ |
সো |
সৌ |
সং |
|
h... |
হ্ |
হ |
হা |
হি |
হী |
হু |
হূ |
হৃ |
হে |
হৈ |
হো |
হৌ |
হং |
Similar
use applies with:-
“ক্ + অ্যা” = ক্যা, “খ্ +অ্যা” = খ্যা ...
“ক্ +ঃ” = কঃ, “খ্ +ঃ” = খঃ ...
“ক্ + ঁ” = কঁ, “খ্+ ঁ” = খঁ ...
Note the
special forms:-
গু=গ+ু
ৎ=ত+্
রু=র+ু
রূ=র+ূ
শু=শ+ু
হু=হ+ু
হৃ=হ+ৃ
HINTS ON SPECIAL PRONUNCIATION
Bengali script is no longer pronounced
truly phonetically. The pronunciation is often modified when certain consonants
are joined in “conjuncts”. In these cases the first consonant is emphasized,
and the second is effectively neglected. The main instances are:-
ক্ষ = ক + ষ sounds like ক্ক, ক্+ক
ksa = k + sa " kka, k'ka
ত্ম = ত + ম sounds like ত্ত, ত্+ত
tma = t + ma " tta, t'ta
Trailing য (ya) or য় (ya) are written as a
“yafla”, which looks a bit like “S”. The effect on
pronunciation is as shown above, for example:-
দ্য = দ্ + য (য়) sounds like দ্দ, দ্+দ
dya = d + ya
(ya) " dda, d'da
The pronunciation of some conjuncts is
changed more drastically:-
জ্ঞ = জ্ + ঞ sounds like গ্য, গ্+য়
jn2a = j + n2a " gya, g'ya
হ্য = হ্ + য (য়) sounds like জ্জ, জ্+জ
hya = h + ya
(ya) " jja, j'ja
Where appropriate, assistance is given
in the dictionary after the romanized version of particularly problematical
words.
|
Declension of Pronouns |
|||||
|
Singular (See Notes #… - Grammar 23.5) |
|||||
|
|
#1 |
#2,4 |
#4 |
#1,3 |
#3,4 |
|
Nominative |
|||||
|
I |
you |
he, she |
it |
you |
he, she |
|
আমি |
তুমি |
সে |
তা |
আপনি |
তিনি |
|
aami |
tumi |
se |
taa |
aapani |
tini |
|
Accusative #5 |
|||||
|
me |
you |
him, her |
it |
you |
him, her |
|
আমাকে |
তোমাকে |
তাকে |
তা |
আপনাকে |
তাঁকে |
|
aamaake |
tomaake |
taake |
taa |
aapanaake |
taa^ke |
|
Genitive |
|||||
|
my |
your |
his, her |
its |
your |
his, her |
|
of me |
of you |
of him, her |
of it |
of you |
of him, her |
|
আমার |
তোমার |
তার |
তার |
আপনার |
তাঁর |
|
aamaar |
tomaar |
taar |
taar |
aapanaar |
taa^r |
|
Dative #6 |
|||||
|
me |
you |
him, her |
it |
you |
him, her |
|
to me |
to you |
to him, her |
to it |
to you |
to him, her |
|
আমাকে |
তোমাকে |
তাকে |
তাকে |
আপনাকে |
তাঁকে |
|
aamaake |
tomaake |
taake |
taake |
aapanaake |
taa^ke |
|
Instrumental-1 (by means of) #7 |
|||||
|
by means of |
by means of |
by means of |
by means of |
by means of |
by means of |
|
আমার |
তোমার |
তার |
তার |
আপনার |
তাঁর |
|
দ্বারা |
দ্বারা |
দ্বারা |
দ্বারা |
দ্বারা |
দ্বারা |
|
aamaar |
tomaar |
taar |
taar |
aapanaar |
taa^r |
|
dvaaraa |
dvaaraa |
dvaaraa |
dvaaraa |
dvaaraa |
dvaaraa |
|
Instrumental-2 (by way of, via) #8 |
|||||
|
via me |
via you |
via him, her |
via it |
via you |
via him, her |
|
আমার |
তোমার |
তার |
তার |
আপনার |
তাঁর |
|
দিয়ে |
দিয়ে |
দিয়ে |
দিয়ে |
দিয়ে |
দিয়ে |
|
aamaar |
tomaar |
taar |
taar |
aapanaar |
taa^r |
|
diye |
diye |
diye |
diye |
diye |
diye |
|
Ablative #9 |
|||||
|
from |
from |
from |
from |
from |
from |
|
me |
you |
him, her |
it |
you |
him, her |
|
আমার |
তোমার |
তার |
তার |
আপনার |
তাঁর |
|
থেকে |
থেকে |
থেকে |
থেকে |
থেকে |
থেকে |
|
aamaar |
tomaar |
taar |
taar |
aapanaar |
taa^r |
|
theke |
theke |
theke |
theke |
theke |
theke |
|
Locative (in, at, on) #10 |
|||||
|
in me |
in you |
in him, her |
in it |
in you |
in him, her |