Phonological Analysis of Mymensingh Dialect

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Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 Vol. 16:3 March 2016

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Phonological Analysis of Mymensingh Dialect, Bangladesh

Iftakhar Ahmed, M.A.
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Abstract
Bangla is an Eastern Indo-Aryan language which belongs to the Indo-European Language

family. Bangla has several sister languages. Mymensingh dialect is a sister language of Bangla.
The native speakers of Mymensingh use Bangla in their everyday communication. The
phonological, morphological, and syntactical features of Mymensingh dialect have a clear
discrepancy from Standard Bangla. This paper aims to present Mymensingh dialect on the
aspects of phonological features. It is found that there are dialectical differences between
standard Bangla and Mymensingh dialect concerning place and manner of articulation of
consonants. The aspirated sound is profoundly absent in Mymensingh dialect. One vowel turning
into another is a common feature in Mymensingh dialect.
Keywords: Standard Bangla, Mymensingh dialect, consonants, vowels.
Introduction
Speculation about the language and dialect has been going for decades. It is not an easy
task to make a barrier between a language and a dialect as Haugen (1966) opines that “language
and dialect are ambiguous terms. Ordinary people use these terms quite freely in speech; for
them a dialect is almost certainly no more than a local non-prestigious (therefore powerless)
variety of a real language” (cited in Wardhaugh,2010. pp 24). Language is a mix of dialects as
Reed (1967) opines that “languages normally consist of dialects, or special varieties of usage
within the range of a given linguistic system, according to the social or geographical disposition
of its speakers.” Geographical distance is not an only criterion to define a dialect. There are
Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 16:3 March 2016

Phonological Analysis of Mymensingh Dialect, Bangladesh 91
many other factors must be concerned to define a dialect than geographical ones as different
social or economic classes use different languages according to their own requirements.
Mymensingh is one of the districts of Dhaka division in Bangladesh. It is situated in the

north area of Bangladesh. It is bordered by Meghalay state of India to the north, Gazipur district
to the south, Netrokona and Kishoreganj district to the east and Sherpur, Jamalpur, Tangail
district to the west and the district covers an area of 4,394.57 square kilometers (Wikipedia,
2015, “Geography”, para.2). According to Shuchi (2013), Bangladesh has a number of dialects
which may be categorized into four groups:
(1) North Bengal dialects including those of Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Bogra and Pabna.
(2) Rajbanshi, the dialect of Rangpur.
(3) East Bengal dialects which include those of a) Dhaka, Mymensingh, Tripura,
Barisal and Sylhet, as well as b) Faridpur, Jessore and Khulna and
(4) South Bengal dialects including those of Chittagong and Noakhali and the dialects
of Chittagong Hill Tracts, such as those spoken by Chakmas and Murongs.
Grierson (1966) divided the varieties of Bangla into two groups: Eastern and Western (in
Haldar, 1986). Grierson (1966) accepts the dialect of Dhaka as standard (in Islam, 1998). He also
includes Mymensingh dialect within western group. Chatterjee (1926) grouped the varieties of
Bangla into four large bodies: Rarh, Banga, Kamarupa and Varendra (in Islam, 1998).According
to him, Mymensingh dialect is the subgroup of Bango. Professor Shahidullah (1965) includes
Mymensingh dialect within the South-East group (in Islam, 1998). Sen (1975) classifies
Mymensing dialect into a part of Bongali group (in Islam, 1998). According to Poreshchandra
(1962), Mymensing dialect falls into Esatern Bangio group (in Islam, 1998).
There have been numerous studies in connection with dialects of Bangladesh in the past.
Mizan (2014) conducted a research on phonological patterns in Standard Colloquial Bangla and
Netrokona dialect. This study of Mizan (2014) is synchronic as both Standard Bangla and
Netrokona dialect are spoken at the present time. The phonological sections were broadly
divided into general sub-sections in the study. The researcher categorized the inventory of
consonant phonemes. Vocalic and consonantal features of Standard Bangla and Netrokona
dialect have been explained. The researcher found thirty consonant phonemes in Standard
Colloquial Bangla. According to Mizan(2014), voiced aspirated sounds are /gh/,/jh/,/dh/,/ d̪h /,/bh/
and voiced unaspirated sounds are /g/, /j/, /d/, /d̪/, /b/.Voiceless aspirated sounds
are/kh/,/ch/,/th/,/t̪ h/,/ph/. The researcher added that voiced aspirated sounds for example /gh/, /jh/,
/dh/, / d̪h /, /bh/ and voiceless aspirated sound /ph/ are not present in Netrokona dialect. Back-mid
vowel /o/ is turned into back-half close vowel /u/ in Netrokona district. Netrokona district is very
close to Mymensingh. Both of the districts have similarities in terms of vocabulary, grammar,
and pronunciation.
Rashel (2012) has tried to make a comparison between Standard Colloquial Bengali
Language and Chatkhil Dialect on the aspects of phonological features, such as, consonants, and
vowel phonemes and allophones. The researcher used minimal pair test to accomplish his study.
During the study Rashel (2012) found twenty-four consonants and seven vowels that are used in
this dialect. Besides, there are four nasalized vowel sounds, five semi-vowels and twenty
diphthongs. The researcher found that the aspirated sounds are less frequent in Chatkhil dialect.
Morshed (1985) has shown the following monophthongs /i/, /e/, /æ/, /a/, /ɔ/, /o/, /u/, /ĩ/,
/ẽ/, /æ̃/, /ã/, /ɔ/̃, /õ/, /ũ/. Hai (1967) showed the following monophthongs: /i/, /e/, /æ/, /a/, /ɔ/, /o/,
/ou//u/. Daniul Hoque (1990) showed the same number of monophthongs as Abdul Hai showed.
According to Ali (2001), Bangla have the following 14 monophthongs /i/, /e/, /æ/,/a/, /ɔ/, /o/, /u/ ,
/ĩ/, /ẽ/, /æ̃/, /ã/, /ɔ/̃, /õ/, /ũ/ (including nasalized monophthongs).
Methodology
Respondents
The method adopted in this paper is the observation method. Since this research is based
on observation method, the researcher’s first work was to select speakers. The researcher tried to
participate in such a situation where many people talk to themselves. The native speakers of
Mymensingh district are the main participants of the study. Literate, illiterate; male, female;
employed, unemployed, young and old; all are the subjects of the study.
Observation Method
The researcher uses observation method to collect data. Kothari (2004) opines “
Observation becomes a scientific tool and the method of data collection for the researcher, when
it serves a formulated research purpose, is systematically planned and recorded and is subjected
to checks and controls on validity and reliability” (p.96). Here the researcher is the “keen
observer” of data record. To get firsthand experience with informants, the researcher acts as a
member of the subjects of the study while observing and keeping notes of the speech of the
subjects.
The data collected for this research are from both primary and secondary sources.
Primary data are collected directly from the native speakers of Mymensingh. Olympus VN-7200
Digital Voice Recorder has been used to record the surreptitious speeches of the natives of
Mymensingh. Secondary data are collected for this study from different sources: books on dialect
studies, published articles on different journals, published online journals on dialects, different
grammar books regarding Bangla language studies.
This researcher spent fifteen days as a participant observer with the people of
Mymensingh district. During this time the researcher actively participated in the gossip made by
a group of people to record the data.
Data Analyses
Observation data are transcribed and written out from Bangla to English for comparative
analysis. The recorded speeches of Mymensingh dialect have been compared with that of
Standard language on the basis of phonology.

Data Collection on Phonological Variation
Mymensingh dialect is quite divergent from Standard Bangla in terms of phonology. The
variation in consonant is quite typical in Mymensingh dialect. Though the native speakers of
Mymensingh use same written standard, the way they speak differs from in different degrees.
Variation in Consonant:
There are some significant differences of consonant between Standard Bangla and
Mymensingh dialect. It is well established that there are dialectical differences concerning place
and manner of articulation of consonants. In Mymensingh dialect, one consonant is often
substituted for another consonant. Data on this issue are presented here:
/Kh/turning into /k/
Meaning in
Standard Bangla Transcription Mymensingh Dialect Transcription
English
khata /khhata/ kata /kat̪ a/ sheet
khabar /khabar/ kabar /kabar/ food
khela /khæla/ kela / kæla/ play
khal /khal/ kal /kal/ canal
khub / khub/ kub /kub/ very
In this table, aspirated /Kh/ is changed into unaspirated /k/.

/bh/turning into /b/
Standard Bangla Transcription Mymensingh Dialect Transcription Meaning in

English
bhokto /bhɔktɔ/ bokto /bɔktɔ/ disciple
bhondo / bhɔndɔ/ bondo / bɔndɔ/ vagabond
bhodro /bhɔd̪rɔ/ bodro /bɔd̪rɔ/ gentle
bhoy /bhɔy/ boy /bɔy/ fear
bhut /bhut/ but /but/ ghost
In this table, labial, plosive, voiceless, aspirated consonants bh is turned into the bilabial,
plosive, voiced, unaspirated bin Mymensingh dialect.
/d̪h/ turning into/d̪/

Standard Bangla (Transcription) Mymensingh dialect (Transcription) Meaning
in English
dhadha /d̪hãd̪hã/ dada /d̪ad̪a/ puzzle
dhormo / d̪hɔrmɔ / dormo /d̪ɔrmɔ/ religion
dhan /d̪han/ dan /d̪an/ paddy
dhap / d̪hap/ dap / d̪ap/ phase
dhora /d̪hɔra / dora /d̪ɔra/ hold
In this table, dental-plosive, voiced, aspirated d̪his turned into the dental, plosive,
voiced, unaspirated d̪in Mymensingh dialect.

/dh/ turning intod
Standard Bangla (Transcription) Mymensingh Dialect (Transcription) Meaning in
English
dhol /dhul/ dul /dul/ tom-tom
dhile /dhile/ dile /dile/ Loose
dhipi /dhipi/ dipi /dipi/ mountain
dhal / dhal / dal / dal/ narrow
Dhaka,
dhaka /dhaka/ daka /daka/ Capital of
Bangladesh
Palato-alveolar, plosive, voiceless, aspirated dh is turned into the palato-alveolar,

plosive, voiced, aspirated d in this dialect.
/ch/ turning into/c/

English
chok /chɔk/ cok /cɔk/ chalk
chorcha /chɔrcha / corca /cɔrca/ practice
chola /chɔla/ cola /cɔla/ cooker
chobi /chɔbi/ cobi /cɔbi/ picture
chacha /chacha/ caca /caca/ uncle
In this table, palatal, plosive, voiceless, aspirated  ch is changed into the palatal, plosive,
unaspirated, fricatives c in Mymensingh dialect.

/ɟh/ turning into /ɟ/

English
jhor /ɟhɔɽ/ zor /ɟɔɽ/ storm
jhorna /ɟhɔrna/ zorna /ɟɔrna/ shower
jhapsha /ɟhapʃa/ zapsha /ɟapʃa/ blur
jhil /ɟhil/ zil /ɟil/ lake
jhal /ɟhal/ zal /ɟal/ spicy
jhol /ɟhol/ zol /ɟol/ water
In this table, palatal, plosive, voiceless  ɟh of standard Bangla is turned into the palatal,
voiced, unaspirated ɟ in Mymensingh dialect.
/gh/ turning into /g/

English
Ghor / ghɔr/ gor /gɔr/ home
Gham /gham/ gam /gam/ sweat
ghori /ghoɽi/ gori /gori/ watch
In this table, velar, plosive, voiceless, aspirated gh of standard Bangla language is turned
into the velar, plosive, voiced, unaspirated g in this dialect.
/ɽ/ turning into /r/

English
ghori /ghoɽi / gori / gori/ watch
Juri / ɟuri/ Juri /ɟuɽi/ pot
Gari /baɽi/ bari /bari/ rain

Palato-alveolar, retroflex, voiced consonant /ɽ/ of standard colloquial Bangla language is
turned into the alveolar, plosive, voiced, unaspirated, retroflex r in this dialect.
/p/ turning into/ph/

English
Pani /pani/ fani /phani/ water
Patla /pat̪ la/ fatla / phat̪ la/ thin
Pora / pɔɽa/ fora /phɔra/ study
In this table, bilabial, plosive, voiceless, unaspirated consonant  p of standard Bangla

language is turned into labial, plosive, voiceless, aspirated consonant  ph in this dialect.
/t̪ h/turning into /t̪ /

Transcription English
matha /mat̪ ha/ mata /mat̪ a/ head
thama / t̪ hama / tama /t̪ ama/ stop
In this table, palato-alveolar, plosive, aspirated, voiceless /t̪ h/ is turned into palato-
alveolar, plosive, unaspirated /t̪ / in Mymensingh dialect.
hturning intoa

English
hasi /haʃi/ asi / aʃi/ laugh
hash /hãʃ/ ash /ãʃ/ duck

In this table, glottal sound hof standard Bangla is turned into a in Mymensingh
dialect.
ʃturning intoh
Standard Bangla Transcription Mymensingh Dialect Transcription Meaning

in
English
sin /ʃiɳ/ hin /hiɳ/ horn
shat / ʃat̪ / hat /hat̪ / seven
Here, the consonant ʃ is turned into glottal sound h in Mymensingh dialect.
t turning into d/
Standard Bangla Transcription Mymensingh Dialect Transcription Meaning

in English
mota /mot̪ a/ moda /moda/ fatty
pitha / pitha/ pida /pida/ cake
In this table, Palato-alveolar, plosive, unaspirated and voiceless t is changed into palato-
alveolar, plosive d/ in Mymensingh dialect.
Regarding consonants, it is notable that the pronouncing aspirated consonants /Kh bhdh
t̪ hd̪h chɟhgh ɽ/of Standard Bangla do not present in Mymensingh dialect.
Variation in Vowel
Standard Bangla and Mymensingh dialect differ greatly in the phonetic characteristics of
their vowels. Mymensingh dialect and Standard Bangla have the same number of vowels. But it

is notable that in Mymensingh dialect, a vowel that occurs in a word is replaced by another
vowel in the same word. The people of Mymensingh region generally omit nasalized sounds.
/i/ tuning into /æ/

Standard Bangla Transcription Mymensingh Dialect Transcription Meaning in English
Nirash /niraʃ/ narash /næræʃ/ frustration
Jibon /jibɑn/ Jabon /jæbɑn/ life
In this table, front-close vowel /i/ is turned into front-half open vowel /æ/.
/e/ turning into /æ/

English
neta /net̪ a/ nata /næt̪ a/ leader
Tel / t̪ el/ tal /t̪ æl/ oil
Net /net/ nat /næt/ net
Bikel /bikel/ bikal /bikæl/ afternoon
Desh /deʃ/ dash /dæʃ/ country
In this table, front mid-vowel /e/ is turned into front-half open vowel /æ/.
/e/ turning into /a/

English
biye /biye/ biya /biya/ marriage
Kheye /kheye/ khaya /khaya/ eat
In this table, front mid-vowel /e/ is turned into central-open vowel /a/.

/ɑ/ turning into /o/

English
oshim /ɑʃim/ oshim /oʃim/ limitless
Sathik /ʃɑt̪ h ik/ sotik /ʃot̪ ik/ right
Kamiti /kɑmiti/ komoti /komiti/ committee
Kafi /kɑfi/ kofi /kofi/ coffee
In this table, back-half open vowel /ɒ/ is turned into back-mid vowel /o/.
/o/ turning into /u/

English
gol /gol/ gul /gul/ round
Chor /chor/ chur /chur/ thief
Bhor /bhor/ bur /bur/ dawn
Poka /poka/ puka /puka/ insects
In this table, back-mid vowel /o/ is turned into back-half close vowel /u/.
Conclusion
This study explores the extent of variations of Mymensingh dialect from Standard Bangla
in terms of phonology. These variations have some incentives as reasons. Users have different
dimensions of tendencies to use such forms. It is found that the dialect used in Mymensingh
district is more likely to differ from Standard Bangla.
There are large-scale differences in the mode of pronunciation between the Standard
Bangla and Mymensingh dialect. Regarding consonants, it is notable that the aspiration of sound
is not present in Mymensingh dialect. The researcher finds same vowels both in standard Bangla
and Mymensingh dialect. But the vowels of Mymensingh dialect are pronounced as different
vowels from standard Bangla in different Positions. This type of confusion regarding
pronunciation is permanent because of the ‘freezing’ of the speakers when the speakers do not
want to overcome his present status as Mclaughlin(1987) opined that ‘freezing’ is “the state of
affairs that exists when the learner ceases to elaborate the interlanguage in some respect, no
matter how long there is exposure , new date, or new teaching (p.61)”.Varshney (1985)
mentioned in his book that “the pronunciation of a language varies every six miles because of
geographical and cultural reasons.”
The speakers of other regions from Bangladesh should be concerned about the
pronunciation of Mymensingh dialect as the local people of Mymensingh district use a lot of
words not pronounced in standard Bangla. In case people coming from other area do not listen
carefully, it can easily create confusion among them. The people from other regions should keep
in their mind that the natives of Mymensingh generally omit aspirated sounds. Meaning
ambiguity can occur as a result of these distorted structures.
It is said that standard language is also a dialect. That is why we cannot dispirit a dialect
speaker to modify his language. But as far as rightness is concerned in official circumstances, all
phonological variations may be regarded as blunders. This article may perform a vivacious role
to boost the inhabitants of Mymensingh to exterminate their faulty phonological practices of
language in a formal condition.
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References
Ali, Z.I. (2001). Dhanibijnaner Bhumika. Dhaka: Mowla Brothers
Hai, M.A. (1967). Dhavani Vijnan O Bangla Dhavani-Tattwa. Dhaka: Mullick Brothers.
Haldar, G. (1986). A comparative grammar of east Bangla dialects. Calcutta: Puthipatra.
Hoque, D.M. (1990). Bhashar Kotha : Bhashabignan. Dhaka : Barim Book Corporation
Islam, Rafiqul (1998). Bhashatattikprabandhabali. Dhaka: Bangla Academy Press.
Kothari, C. R. (2004). Research methodology. New Delhi: New Age International (P) Ltd.
McLaughlin, B. (1987). Theories of second language learning. Great Britain: Edward Arnold.
Mizan, N. (2014). A thesis on phonological patterns in Standard Colloquial Bangla and

Netrokona dialect. Retrieved from
http://dspace.bracu.ac.bd/bitstream/handle/10361/3343/1236300
6.pdf?sequence=1
Morshed, M.K.F. (1985). A Study of Standard Bangla and Noakhali Dialect. Dhaka : Bangla
Academy
Mymensingh District. (n.d.) Retrieved April 2, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mym

ensingh-District
Rashel, M. M. (2012). Standard Colloquial Bengali and Chatkhil Dialect: a comparative

phonological study. Language in India, Voleme 12: ISSN 1930-2940. Retrieved from http://ww
w.languageinindia.com/jan2012/chatkhildialectfinal.pdf
Reed, C. E. (1967). Dialects of American English .Ohio: World Publishing Company
Shuchi, S. (2013). The effect of Bangla dialect on English language teaching: teacher’s
perspectives and attitudes. MA Thesis. Brac University. Retrieved from
http://dspace.bracu.ac.bd/
bitstream/handle/10361/3641/shahria%20shuchi%20(11163007).pdf?sequence=1
Varshney, R. L. (1985). An introductory text book. Dhaka: BOC Ltd.

Wardhaugh, R. (2010). An introduction to sociolinguistics. Oxford: Blackwell.

Department of English
Jahangirnagar University
Savar, Dhaka-1342
Bangladesh
iftakharahmedju@gmail.com


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Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 Vol. 16:3 March 2016

Phonological Analysis of Mymensingh Dialect, Bangladesh

Bangla is an Eastern Indo-Aryan language which belongs to the Indo-European Language

Keywords: Standard Bangla, Mymensingh dialect, consonants, vowels.

Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 16:3 March 2016

Mymensingh is one of the districts of Dhaka division in Bangladesh. It is situated in the

Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 16:3 March 2016

/Kh/turning into /k/

In this table, aspirated /Kh/ is changed into unaspirated /k/.

Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 16:3 March 2016

Standard Bangla Transcription Mymensingh Dialect Transcription Meaning in

/d̪h/ turning into/d̪/

Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 16:3 March 2016

Palato-alveolar, plosive, voiceless, aspirated dh is turned into the palato-alveolar,

/ch/ turning into/c/

Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 16:3 March 2016

Standard Bangla Transcription Mymensingh Dialect Transcription Meaning in

/gh/ turning into /g/

/ɽ/ turning into /r/

Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 16:3 March 2016

/p/ turning into/ph/

In this table, bilabial, plosive, voiceless, unaspirated consonant  p of standard Bangla

/t̪ h/turning into /t̪ /

Standard Bangla Transcription Mymensingh Dialect Transcription Meaning in

Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 16:3 March 2016

Standard Bangla Transcription Mymensingh Dialect Transcription Meaning

t turning into d/

Standard Bangla Transcription Mymensingh Dialect Transcription Meaning

Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 16:3 March 2016

/i/ tuning into /æ/

Jibon /jibɑn/ Jabon /jæbɑn/ life

/e/ turning into /æ/

/e/ turning into /a/

Standard Bangla Transcription Mymensingh Dialect Transcription Meaning in

Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 16:3 March 2016

Standard Bangla Transcription Mymensingh Dialect Transcription Meaning in

/o/ turning into /u/

Standard Bangla Transcription Mymensingh Dialect Transcription Meaning in

Haldar, G. (1986). A comparative grammar of east Bangla dialects. Calcutta: Puthipatra.

Mizan, N. (2014). A thesis on phonological patterns in Standard Colloquial Bangla and

Mymensingh District. (n.d.) Retrieved April 2, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mym

Rashel, M. M. (2012). Standard Colloquial Bengali and Chatkhil Dialect: a comparative

Reed, C. E. (1967). Dialects of American English .Ohio: World Publishing Company

Varshney, R. L. (1985). An introductory text book. Dhaka: BOC Ltd.

Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 16:3 March 2016

Iftakhar Ahmed, M.A.

Language in India www.languageinindia.com ISSN 1930-2940 16:3 March 2016

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