LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 14:11 November 2014
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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A Case Study on Consonant Clusters in Meiteilon and Bengali

Bobita Sarangthem, Ph.D.
Laishram Lokendro, M.Sc., MCA
P. Madhubala, Ph.D.

Abstract

Meiteilon is a Tibeto-Burman language, and Bengali belongs to the eastern group of the Indo- Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. One of the goals of this paper is simply to highlight the consonant clusters found in Meiteilon and Bengali. In spite of belonging to two different language families, both share much in common, not only as verb final languages but also in consonant clusters. Interestingly, Meiteilon borrowed Bengali script for writing. Thus, it is important to discuss the similarities and differences of consonant cluster between the two languages. This paper also reflects the changes undertaken in writing the consonant cluster in Meitei mayek or the indigenous script. Nowadays, Meitei mayek writing system has been introduced to the schools of Manipur. In Meitei mayek writing system the consonant graphic variant is not adopted, instead Apun khudam (Ligature) is used to show consonant cluster.

Key words: Meileilon, consonant cluster, Meitei mayek, initial, medial, and borrowed.

1.0 Introduction

Meiteilon is spoken in the state of Manipur and also in the adjoining northeastern states of India. The word meiteilon is the local name of Manipuri language. Bengali is the language native to the region of Bengal, which comprises present-day Bangladesh and the Indian states West Bengal, Tripura and southern Assam. It is written using the Bengali script. With about 220 million native and about 250 million total speakers, Bengali is one of the most spoken languages, ranked seventh in the world (Bengali Language in Asiatic Society of Bangladesh 2003). While Meiteilon is spoken by about 12 million native speakers (Students Britanica India 2000:361-366) and it is the lingua franca of many different ethnic tribes of Manipur. It is also the official language of Manipur state along with English. Meiteilon has two writing system viz. i) using Meitei mayek or indigenous script and ii) using Bengali script. Before the advent of Hinduism in Manipur in the eighteenth century, the ancient Manipuri literature was written in Meitei mayek. The use of Bengali script was introduced only after the introduction of Hinduism. Since then using Bengali script for literature and newspaper is used. However, Meitei mayek writing system has been introduced in the schools of Manipur from the academic session 2005-2006 onwards in a phased manner (Surmangol, 2007).

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Bobita Sarangthem, Ph.D.
Department of Linguistics
Manipur University
Imphal
Canchipur - 795003
Manipur
India
bobitasarangthem@rediffmail.com

Laishram Lokendro, M.Sc., MCA
Imphal - 795001
Manipur
India
loken,lai@gmail.com

P. Madhubala Devi, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Linguistics
Manipur University
Imphal
Canchipur – 795003
Manipur
India
pmadhubala@gmail.com
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