Unveiling the Beauty and Richness of Bengali Language: Exploring its History, Culture and Influence

India is home to thousands of languages, each of which has its unique flavor, distinct features, and beauty that sets it apart. One such wonderful language is Bengali! It is referred to as the world’s sweetest language. The language has nearly ten crore speakers and hence one of the ten most spoken languages in the world. But Bengali speakers aren’t confined to India. The language is also spoken extensively across Bangladesh (with little local variations) and by the Indian and Bangladeshi diaspora spread worldwide.

Bengali language’s uniqueness fascinates many. So, if you also experience the same feeling as an individual or a businessperson eyeing the Bengali-speaking regions, you aren’t alone! So, let’s delve more into Bengali’s history, culture, and beauty.

Bengali Language History

Bengali is an Indo-Aryan language that evolved from Magadhi Prakrit, Pali, and Sanskrit. The history of the Bengali language can be traced back to 900 CE – the times of Charyapada. One can look into Bengali’s history with its collection of mystical poems that make the language’s literature the oldest surviving in the world.

However, Bengali’s first written script emerged in the 13th century. One can feel the impact of Arabic and Persian language in Bengali literature. But these languages also helped Bengali evolve. Much of the Bengali literature written during those times was translated into various Central Asian languages.

Bengali poetry continued blossoming despite challenges and foreign influences. In 1800, it witnessed a transformation with the introduction of conventional writing methods. Poets commenced writing for the theater. It was during this time that Bengali Hindus outshone their contemporaries and emerged on the global horizon. Nevertheless, these good times ended with the demise of the great poet Rabindranath Tagore.

Exploring Bengali’s Richness – 7 Interesting Facts About Bengali Language

Let’s look at seven intriguing facts that showcase the richness and uniqueness of Bengali.

1. Bengali is Devoid of Gender

Bengali doesn’t have any gender-specific pronouns. Nouns and pronouns are changed depending on their function in a sentence in four cases, while verbs are excessively conjugated. However, the Bengali language has gender-specific terms for mother and father and actor and actress. This is one reason Bengali has a softer learning curve.

2. India’s National Anthem was First Composed in Bangla

India’s national anthem Jana Gana Mana was originally written in Bangla. The anthem is the first of a poem’s five stanzas. Rabindranath Tagore later set it to notations.

3. Bengali has a Connection with Sierra Leone!

Yes, you read it right! Sierra Leone is a West African country situated thousands of miles away from Bengal. So, you may wonder about the connection between Bengali and Sierra Leone. Way back in 2002, Sierra Leone was a country grappled with an 11-year-old civil war. It was then that Bangladeshi peacekeepers entered the scene and played a significant role in restoring peace in the country. Accordingly, Bengali was conferred the honorary official language status in the country.

4. Bangla is Taught Worldwide

Bengali’s influence or fame isn’t restricted to India. Many reputed universities across the world like the University of Texas, Harvard University, etc., offer a course or degree in the Bengali language. Fantastic, right? Yes, it is!

5. Bangla Brought the First Nobel Prize to Asia

The reason was Gitanjali, authored by the great Rabindranath Tagore. Gitanjali was later translated into many other languages worldwide.

6. Bengali has 100,000 Unique Words

Every language in the world is in some way connected. Bengali isn’t an exception. However, the Bengali language borrows words from Portuguese, Persian, Japanese, Sanskrit, Dutch, Arabic, English, French, and Turkish. Many such loanwords borrowed from these languages have resulted in over 100,000 unique Bangla words!

7. Bengali has Two Written Forms

Another significant fact about the Bengali language is its two literary styles– Shadhu (elegant language) bhasha and Cholito or Cholti (current) bhasha. Shadhu is the conventional literary style used around the 16th century. On the other hand, Cholti is a more contemporary style developed around the 19th century.

The two primarily differ in the forms of pronouns and verb inflections. Today, most people are proficient in Cholti. Shadhu doesn’t exist in everyday linguistic interactions. Although most modern literature is in Cholti, Bengali has many other dialects.

So, that was about some engaging facts about the Bengali language, uncovering its history and richness. For businesspersons reading this blog, before we conclude, we’d also like to talk about the gigantic business potential of the Bengali-speaking regions. With a population ranging in many millions, West Bengal and other Bengali-speaking territories across India and beyond can prove a lucrative business playground for you.

However, if you are looking to genuinely target them and establish your foothold, you need Bengali language translation and Bengali localization services. Filose is here to help you. Our expertise in the Bengali language, a team of language specialists, domain experts, etc., are prepared to help you build the language advantage. Please connect with us at sales@filose.com to explore more about our Bengali translation support.

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