Whenever someone visits the cultural-rich land of Bengal, they are mesmerised by a variety of things. Especially, by Kolkata. It is called the City of Joy for a reason, my friend. Having spent my whole life there and moving out just last year, there’s a sense of longing to rush back to that culture-rich land I call home with utmost pride. Lord only knows how I’d kill, for sure, for those sumptuous Bengali dishes; for mouth-watering phuchkas; for a bout of street-shopping at New Market; for soaking in the smell of books at College Street or Milan Mela and just to hear the street ramblings of the slow-yet-fast-paced city.
Having said all of it, I would be the nth person to say that Bengalis are super-sweet and cute. And, Bengali as a language is honey-sweet-smooth on the ears. But, there are certain English words Bengalis say differently than the rest. Mistake me not! They are exceptionally knowledgeable when it comes to speaking and writing grammatically rich English. But, there’s an unshakeable diction some Bangalis have that adds quirkiness and desiness to our very dibherse (diverse) English language.
Wondering what? Have a dekko!
1. Let’s start with the basics 🙂
2. Ekta septi pin daao. (Give me a safety pin.)
2. It’s kept on top of the tabul!
3. It is completely phine, guys.
4. Chai and biskoot are my staple snacks.
5. Computer dicks!
6. Just like, it is riskah and not a rickshaw.
7. Joom, joom, joom baba!
8. Like, veg chop is bhej chop.
9. It’s all about our bhalues.
10. We are constantly laarning new ouards (words).
11. Let’s have some dinks!
12. Ektu phutball kheli? (Let’s play some football?)
13. Just Bengali things, guys!
14. You must’ve heard this before, I am sure.
15. Basically, shorts are called half pants aka happant.
16. Rabindranath Tagore’s ishstatue.
17. Because that’s how it is.
18. Touch ouod or ood!
19. Yesh, it is pronounced like task-key.
20. Leed on the bowl!
21. This also, I am sure you are acquainted with.
22. Because there’s no ‘v’ in Bengali.
24. Slip of tongue 😛
25. Now, this is quite niche, but I swear I have heard it.
These examples are just the cream of the crop. Oh, there are more. The punch lies when you hear them speak. It is puro phatafati, then. I am blessed with Bengali friends and have the inside scoop on their Bangali diction.
Having said it all, aren’t they cute that way? Waise, you know they are also the smartest of the lot and excellence comes naturally to them.
P.S. I know not EVERY Bengali speaks this way and a majority of them have a clear diction. But, even you know, those who have a heavy MTI (mother tongue influence), they do say it like the way they say it!