I don't have to mind my language, for if I speak in Bangla, I am possibly using the sweetest words ever uttered on earth. Ever since a child, I was known to the fact that among all the languages in the world - Bengali (Bangla in Bengali) is the sweetest one and I am part of the community that speaks Bengali as its mother tongue.
The good old conviction became a reality just a few days ago when an unofficial result flooded social networking sites claiming, that 'Bengali' is the world's sweetest language.
If hearsay is to be believed - UNESCO had conducted an online survey (which is still unofficial and the results are yet to be made official) a couple of months back - and 'Bengali' won the banner of being the sweetest language ever. While 'Spanish' and 'Dutch' were, the second and third sweetest tongues respectively.
'Bangla'- the national language for Bangladeshis in Bangladesh and 'mother tongue' for all Bengalis in India (who are originally from West Bengal) and those who are dwelling elsewhere in the world -- the unconfirmed report was a source of self-importance for all Bangla speakers in the world.
Well, languages can act as a fence if you don't comprehend it but sometimes you don't have to understand it fully to catch hold of what it means!
I am reminded of being an onlooker to a minor scuffle that broke between a typical bhodrolok (who was touring in Delhi, maybe) and a local vendor. The bhodrolok was unwilling to pay the hefty sum of money that the vendor had asked for. Then, while paying the vendor the asked money ... the bhodrolok said a typical slang in Bangla, (which had me into splits) the vendor then said - 'Darunn! Hum sab samajte hai sahab' (Excellent! we understand it all, sir)
I guess, the vendor understood more than its literal meaning.
Yet, one thing is to be believed - when you dive into an alien land...you cannot resist speaking in your mother tongue, however professional and practical you outwardly seem to be. Besides, when you actually get your community's bhai bandhu ... your joys seek no bounds. It is a relief. It is a sense of belonging! The truth is that I have received maximum discounts (by simply highlighting my Bengali origins and by speaking the sugarcoated language); of course, from the shopkeepers who have Bengali roots...From, Delhi's CR Park Market to the West Bengal and Bangladesh stalls at the Trade Fair...prices came plunging down.
Bengali is written exactly the way it is spoken, so being a phonetic language it is very easy to learn, read, and speak. Nevertheless, I have noticed that some Bengalis have acute pronunciation and grammar problems while speaking in Hindi. I am no exception.
I still don't understand why for everything we have feminine and masculine genders in Hindi. I mean, why is gaddi (vehicle) a female ...? Why is it aati hai and not aata hai?
Tell me why 'phool' (a flower) or 'gussaa' (anger) are of masculine gender in Hindi.
Strangely, I also learned that 'jeb' (pocket) is feminine and 'juda' (hair bun) is masculine. Why?
Likewise, even my North-Indian friends argue -- why every eatable and drinkable item in Bangla is 'khabo' (eat)
'And how can water/tea/coffee be khabo?' 'Why can't it be peebo...?'
I have heard this many times. Moreover, for the umpteenth time - peebo is no word in Bangla.
I am sure that there is some logic behind all this Hindi grammar but it drives me nuts and I am yet to learn it.
There is no denying that the fusion of many regional languages enriches our country's ethnicity. It might be difficult to learn and speak all languages...but whatever one speaks, (by birth/work/interest) should try to do so with utmost knack.
As for me, I just want to master the grammar of 'spoken Hindi'... for I don't ever want to repeat (which I did in the middle of a fiery argument) my biggest howler - 'Don't instigate me. Mujhe gussaa bahut aati hai'
Yeah! When it is too much of gussaa (anger) in me... the 'Roshogolla' in my mouth steadily pops out...sometimes, leading the way to yet another crackling slip-up!
If you still smile and call it 'Sweet', I don't mind it.
Published on ibnlive.com
Friday , May 07, 2010
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