LEXICAL COMPARASION

LEXICAL COMPARASION 

BETWEEN BANGLA AND MAITHILI

Abstract: As the title of this paper per se indicates that this paper is willing to deal with comparative study between Bengali and Maithili language in basic or common words and trying to show how and to what extent common and basic words are similar and different from each other phonologically and morphologically as well and it has also shown that both Maithili and Bengali languages belong to the same Eastern part of India and considered as a separate language independently but not a dialect of Hindi. This paper also try to reveal the lexical similarity with phonological point of view in loan and borrowing words with nativized forms in both languages. This paper also shows the genetic classification of both languages and its relationship between them.

Key Words: Basic or common words including Numeral, Calendar, Week, Kinship term, domestic word, native words and loan or borrowing words including Arabic words, Persian words, Turkish words, Portuguese words and comparative study of words and writing systems as well.

MAITHILI AND ITS HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Maithili language is mostly spoken in the eastern part of India in state of Bihar and the eastern Terai region of Nepal. It was earlier considered to be either as a dialect of Bengali (Beames 1872-79/reprint 1966: 84-85), or of Eastern Hindi (Hoernle 1880), or as one of the three dialects of a spurious language ‘Bihari’ (Grierson 1883-87; 1885; 1903/ reprint 1968). Today However, Maithili achieved an independent language status in India in the year 2003. This could happen only because of a mass movement that called for providing Maithili an official status through its inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution so that it may be used for education, government and other purposes. Demographically, Maithili is the second most widely spoken language of Nepal, and according to the International P.E.N. (Poets, Essayists and Novelists) and the Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters), the 16^th largest language of India and 40th most spoken language in the World. It is spoken by approximately 4.5 Crore people in India.

BANGLA AND ITS HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Bengali Language or Bangla is an Indo-Aryan language spoken mostly in the Eastern part of Indian subcontinent. It takes its birth from a form of Prakrit or Middle Indo-Aryan to finally emerge from the Apabhramsa-Avahatta in the tenth century. It has evolved from the Magadhi Prakrit and Sanskrit languages and is the second most spoken language in India. Diachronically Bengali language has been divided into three eras – Old Bengali (950-1350), Middle Bengali (1350-1800) and Modern Bengali (1800 to the present day). Old Bengali is survived only through a collection of forty-eight poems (1050-1200) known as the charva songs. These were composed by the siddhacharyas (enlightened ones) who were mainly Buddhist. Middle Bengali covers a huge period. The 15th century mostly covered the narrative poetry genre, the theme being mainly of religious content. Nineteenth century was the period when the actual literary renaissance of Bengali took place. Michael Madhusudan Datta (1834-1873) and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (1838-1898) were the founders of the modern age in Bengali literature. Currently the language belt of Bengali ranges from Bangladesh to the Indian state of West Bengal, Assam and Tripura. With about 230 million speakers spread all over the world, the Bangla Language is also one of the most spoken languages in the world.  

METHODLOGY

I have used both primary and secondary data for this paper. For primary data, it is I being a native speaker of Maithili with my own intuition for Maithili language and for Bengali, data taken from a native speaker of Bengali. For secondary data, I have taken data from Internet and ebook and have had a lengthy cross check.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAITHILI AND BENGALI

The Maithili script is most closely related to the Bengali script. It is often considered a variant of Bengali because of the similarity in the structure and design of the two script, but such conclusions are inaccurate. Traditionally, the Maithili script is regarded as an independent script and is known in Bengal as Tirute, meaning “of the Tirhuta region,” ie. the Tirahut¯a script (Chatterji, 1926: 225). The close relationship of Maithili to Bengali, and more distantly to the Oriya, Assamese, and Newari scripts, is due to the genesis of these scripts from a common source, the Proto-Bengali, or Gaud. ¯ı, script, which itself evolved from the Kutila descendent of Brahmin around 1000 century. These five scripts became clearly differentiated by the 14^th and 15th centuries (Salomon, 1998: 41).

A comparison of the Maithili script to Bengali indicates that there are several Maithili letters may be considered identical to Bengali letters. For instance, 4 of the 14 Maithili vowel letters; 5 of the 15 Maithili vowel signs; 21 of the 37 Maithili consonant letters; and 4 of the 10 Maithili digits resemble forms found in Bengali. (Pandey. A, 2006)

In spite of such resemblance, Maithili possesses several vowel and consonant letter shapes, consonant conjunct shapes, and orthographic features that are not found in the modern Bengali script. While several of the Maithili consonant letters resemble Bengali letters when written independently, the conjunct forms produced by these letters are different in the two scripts. For example, conjuncts like ˙nga and rga, as well as consonant vowel ligatures like gu, take different shapes in the two scripts despite the similarity in the shape of ga. Another major difference between Maithili and Bengali is the use of phala elements for writing consonant- vowel ligatures and a broader phala repertoire for the creation of consonant conjuncts.

WRITING SYSTEM

Maithili used to be written in the Maithili script, which has some resemblance to the Bengali script and is also known by names like Tirhuta and Mithilakshar. Apart from this, the Maithili language was also written in the Kaithi script. However, it is the Devanagri script that is most commonly used for writing Maithili in the present times. Maithili Grammar is considered to be a very standard Grammar. It is based on the sutras of Sanskrit grammar of Panini.

The Bengali writing system is not a purely an alphabetic script such as the Latin script rather it is a variant of the Eastern Nagari script used throughout Bangladesh and eastern India. It is said to be emerged from the modified Brahmic script around 1000 CE. It is similar to the Assamese script, the Oriya script and Mithilakshar.

GENETIC CLASSIFICATION OF MAITHILI AND BANGLA

No linguists agree on how exactly to classify the Indo-Aryan language by showing the place of Maithili and Bengali among them. The earlier classification of INDO-ARYAN language is that provided by Grierson (1883), who describes both Maithili as a dialect of Bihari and Bengali descendant of the Magadhi derived Gaudian language, but quite distinct from the Hindi language. Later Grierson came up with a slightly different grouping of the Indo-Aryan languages and divided it into three main divisions, the grouping of which was “based on linguistic considerations and also coincides with geographical distribution of various languages” (Grierson 1918: 49)

Chatterji (1926), like Grierson (1883a) believes that both Maithili and Bengali belong to the group of Magadhi Apabharamsa (called Magadhi Prakrit by Grierson).(See Fig-01)

Jha.S (1958) came up with some modifications of Indo-Aryan languages and believes that both Maithili and Bengali belong to the Eastern Prakrit in Indo-Aryan language whereas Maithili belongs to the Magadha group and Bengali belongs to the Videha groups.(See Fig-02)

LEXICAL COMPARASION BETWEEN 

BENGALI AND MAITHILI

Now it is very interesting to see the list of basic and common words including numerals, calendar, week, kinship terms, domestic words, native words and loan words with nativized form as well in between Bengali and Maithili language, which are phonologically different from each other and morphologically as well.

CALENDAR

No	Bengali	Maithili	Days
1	Boishaakh	Baisaakh	31
2	Joishtho	Jaith	31
3	Asharh	Akhaar	31
4	Srabon	Saaun	31
5	Bhadro	Bhaado	31
6	Ashvin	Asin	30
7	Kaartik	Katik	30
8	Ogrohayon	Aghan	30
9	Poush	Pus	30
10	Maagh	Maagh	30
11	Faalgum	Faagun	30
12	Choitro	Chaeet	30

NUMBERS

No	Bengali	Maithli
1	Ek	Ek
2	Dhui	Du
3	Teen	Teen
4	Chaar	chaiir
5	Paach	Paach
6	Chhoi	Chha
7	Saat	Saat
8	AaT	AaTh
9	Noi	Na
10	Dosh	Das

WEEK

Bengali	Maithili	English
Shombar	Som	Monday
Mongolbar	Mangal	Tuseday
Budbar	Budh	Wednesday
Brihospotibar	Brispat	Thursday
Sukkrobar	Sukkar	Friday
Sonibar	Saiin	Saturday
Robibar	Raiib	Sunday

KINSHIP TERM

Bengali	Maithili	English
Baba	Babu	Father
Ma	Maii	Mother
Sami/bor	Bor/pati	Husband
Sstri/bou	Bou	Wife
Chhaile	BeTa	Son
Chhaileme	BeTi	Daughter
Bhai	Bhai	Brother
Bon	Bahin	Sister
Dada	Dada	Grand Father

DOMESTIC WORDS

Bengali	Maithili	English
Khabar	Khana	Food
Mangso	Maus	Meat
Roti	Roti	bread
Chiken	Chiken	Chicken
Maachh	Maachh	Fish
Chaamuch	Chammas	Spoon
Chini	Chinni	Sugar
Laban	Nuun	Salt
Bari	Ghar	Home
goru	Gaay	Cow
Manus	Adami	Man
Maiemanus	Aurat	Woman
Bipod	Bippat	Danger
Santi	Santi	Peace
Bhiae	Biyah	Marriage
Din	Din	Day
Rait	Raiit	Night
Pani	Paiin	Water
Bhaat	Bhaat	Rice
Kaari	Kari	Curry
Sobji	Sabji	Vegetable
Cha	Chaa	Tea
Kosto	Dukhi	Unhappy
Kap	Kap	Cup
Glash	Glaas	Glass
Chear	Kursi	Chair
Tebil	Tebul	Table
baksho	baksaa	Box
Kopi	Kobi	Cabbage
Ataa	aNTaa	Flour
Paau	paau	Bread
Gaari	Gaari	Car

NATIVE WORDS

Bengali	Maithili	English
Alu	Alu	Potato
Kala	Behraa	Deaf
Khuki	Chhori	Girl
Khoka	Chhoraa	Boy
khoNj	Khoj	Notice
Chal/chaul	Chaaur	Rice grain
Chula	Chulhaa	Oven
Jhol	Jhor	Gravy
theNg	Taang	Leg
Dhol	Dhol	Drum
PeT	PeT	Belly
Muri	Murhi	Puffed rice
LoTaa	LoTaa	LoTa
Jiban	Jiban	Life
Bhalabasa	Prem	Love

Now it is time to notice some loan and borrowing words with nativized forms which have derived and originated from their parental root and language which helped in proving that each and every language in the world has an inherent, natural and parental nature and feature to maintain the lending and borrowing systems and processes among contact languages in order to provide the facility for language users and speakers. Therefore a large number of loan words are being used in both Bengali and Maithili language frequently.

ARABIC WORDS

Bengali	Maithili	Arbic	English
Akkel	Akal	aql	Wisdom
Alada	Alaadaa	Alada	Separate
Ashol	Asal	Ashl	Real
Elaakaa	Ilaakaa	ilakah	Area
Kobor	Kabar	Qabr	Grave
Khobor	Khabar	Khabar	News
Khali	Khali	Khali	Empty
Gorib	Garib	Gharib	Poor
joma	Jama	Jama	Collect
hishab	Hisaab	Hisab	Calculation
Tarikh	Tarikh	Tarikh	Date
Duniya	Duniya	Dunya	World
Fokir	Fakir	Faqir	Poor person
baaki	Baaqi	Baqiy	Remaining

PERSIAN WORDS

Bengali	Maithili	Persian	English
Aoaz	Avaz	Avaz	Sound/voice
Andaj	Andaz	Andaz	Guess
Aena	Ainaa	Ayneh	Mirror
Aram	Araam	Aram	Comfort
Aste	Ahiste	Ahiste	Slowly
Kaagoj	Kaagaj	Kaghaz	Paper
Kharaap	Kharaab	Xarab	Bad
Khub	Khub	Xub	Very
gorom	Garam	Gram	Hot
choshma	chasmaa	Chashm	Glass
Chadar	Kambal	Chador	Job
Jaan	Jaan	Jan	Dear
Degchi	Degchi	Degcheh	Pot
moja	Majaak	Mazaq	Fun
Deri	Deri	Der	Late
Porda	Parda	Pardah	Curtain
rastaa	Sadak/rastaa	Rasta	Road
Bagaan	Bagaan	Baghan	Garden
bachchhaa	bachchhaa	bachchha	child
dokaan	dukaan	Dokan	Store
Roj	Rojaanaa	Ruz	Everyday
Dom	saaNs	Dam	Breath
Bojaar	bajaar	Bazar	Marke

TURKISH WORDS

Bengali	Maithili	Turkish	English
kaNchi	KaiiNchi	KaiNchi	Scissor
Kormaa	Kormaa	Korma	Korma
Chokmok	Chakmak	Chakmak	Sparkle
Dada	Bade bhai	Dede	Elder brother
Naani	Naani	Nine	Grandmother
Baba	Baba/papa	Baba	Father
Baburchi	Babarchi	Babarchi	Cook/chef
Begom	Begam	Begum	Lady
Laash	laas	lash	corpse

PORTUGUESE WORDS

Bengali	Maithili	Portuguese	English
Almaari	Almaari	Armario	Cupboard
Istri	Istri/pres	Estirar	Iron
Ishpaat	Ispaat	Espada	Steel
Kamij/z	Kamiz/j	Camisa	Shirt
Gamlaa	Gamlaa	Gamela	Basket
Chaabi	Chaabhi	Chave	Key
Janala	Janglaa/khirki	Janela	Window
Tamak	Tambaaku	Tobacco	Tobacco
toalia	Toliyaa	Toalha	Towel
Perek	Naakhun	Prego	Nail
Fitaa	Fitaa	Fita	Lace/ribbon
Barandaa	Barandaa	Varnda	Verandah
BaalTi	baalTi	Balde	Pail
Botam	Batam	botaNo	Button
Mej/z	Mej/z	Mesa	Table
shaban	Sabun	sabaNo	soap

CONCLUSION

I now would like to conclude the central soul of this paper by saying that it is very desirable and interesting to see how and to what extent common words are similar and different in both Bengali and Maithili language phonologically and morphologically as well. We can also see the lexical similarity in loan and borrowing words with its nativized forms. On the basis of a handful of common or basic words having lexical similarity and least difference phonologically and also having almost similar script too, we can say that Maithili is a derived from Bengali or a dialect of Bengali(Beames 1872-79/reprint 1966: 84-85) or vice versa. But later on it was shown that Maithili is a separate and independent language and a dialect of Bihari language, not a dialect of Bengali and Hindi language although both Maithili and Bengali languages belong to the Easter part of Indian subcontinent and derived from Eastern Prakirt and Magadhi Apbharansh.

As we have discovered and found out the loan and borrowing words with their nativized forms are being used frequently and unconsciously by speakers in both Maithili and Bengali languages in a speach community . If it is so then after 50^th decades it is much probably to be said that Arabic, Turkish and Portuguese languages are related to and derived from the same parent root or Indo-Aryan language family because historical linguistic and linguists with the help of comparative method, they try to relate the language to its parental root or language on the basis of some common and basic words. Now a days we have a huge range of literature of linguistics full of information therefore it is not possible to say that these languages are related to the common ancestor or parental root.

REFERENCES

Chatterji, S.K. (1926), The Origin and Development of the Bengali Language, Calcutta University Press, India

Grierson, G.A. (1909), In Introduction to Maithili dialect of Bihari.

Jha, Subhadra. (1958), The Formation of Maithili Language, London: Luzac & Co.

Pandey, A. (2006), Request to Allocate the Maithili Script in the Unicode Roadmap, University of Washington, USA

Yadav, R. Maithili Language And Linguistics: Some Background Notes, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal