Wikijunior:Languages/Sylheti

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Languages

Arabic Assamese Bengali Bikol Catalan Dutch English Esperanto Estonian French German Hebrew Hindi Japanese Korean Latin Mandarin Chinese Manipuri Marathi Nahuatl Norwegian Polish Portuguese Quenya Russian Sanskrit Serbian Spanish Swahili Sylheti Tagalog Tamil Turkish Urdu

What writing system(s) does this language use?

Sylheti uses its own script, encoded in Unicode as Syloti Nagri, developed specifically for writing the language. The script consists of 5 vowels, 5 vowel diacritics, and 28 consonants. Additionally, individuals studying other languages may employ scripts containing an excess of vowels and consonants not essential for Sylheti. This contrast highlights the language's efficiency in phonetic expression compared to systems designed for languages with more extensive phonetic requirements.

phomeme — one of the basic sounds out of which words are made.

How many people speak this language?

Approximately 11-14 million people speak Sylheti as their native language. Due to its cultural significance, there's also interest in learning the language, contributing to a broader community of speakers.

native speaker — someone who learned to speak a language as a child.

Where is this language spoken?

Sylheti is primarily spoken in the Sylhet region of India and Bangladesh. However, due to migration and diaspora communities, Sylheti is also spoken in various parts of the United Kingdom and the Middle East.

diaspora — the dispersion of people from their original homeland.

What is the history of this language?

Sylheti has ancient roots, evolving from the Prakrit, a precursor to the Eastern Indo-Arian languages. Over the years, it has developed its unique linguistic features. The language has ties to the historical region of Sylhet and has loanwords from Persian, Arabic, and Sanskrit.

loanwords — words in a language that have been borrowed from other languages.

Who are some famous authors or poets in this language?

While Sylheti literature has a rich oral tradition and vernacular manuscripts, notable historical figures like Radha Raman, Hasan Raja, Sadik Ali, and Sundari Mohan Das have significantly contributed to Sylheti literature, preserving its cultural essence.

literature — books, like the one you are reading now.

What are some basic words in this language that I can learn?

Sylheti	Pronunciation	English

What is a simple song/poem/story that I can learn in this language?

Noya Daman

Noya Daman is a Sylheti folk song celebrating the reception of a new groom by bridesmaids. With expressive lyrics and vibrant melodies, it can be freely accessed, offering a glimpse into the festive and heartwarming atmosphere of Sylheti wedding traditions.

Sylheti	Pronunciation	English
ꠀꠁꠟꠣꠞꠦ ꠘꠄꠀ ꠖꠣꠝꠣꠘ	ailaɾɛ nɔja d̪aman	Here comes the new groom
ꠀꠍꠝꠣꠘꠦꠞꠅ ꠔꠦꠞꠣ	asmanɛɾɔ t̪ɛɾa	(shining like a) star in the sky
ꠛꠤꠍꠣꠘꠣ ꠛꠤꠍꠣꠁꠀ ꠖꠤꠝꠥ	bisana bisaia d̪imʊ	we'll make the bed (with care)
ꠡꠣꠁꠟ ꠗꠣꠘꠦꠞ ꠘꠦꠞꠣ	ʃail d̪ánɛɾ nɛɾa	with rice straw (in a traditional way with Shail Rice's straw)
ꠖꠣꠝꠣꠘ ꠜ ꠅ ꠖꠣꠝꠣꠘ ꠜ ꠅ	d̪aman bɔ ɔ d̪aman bɔ ɔ	O bride seat (seat down), O bride seat (relax).

References

• Ethnologue - Sylheti