# Mymensinghi language

Mymensinghi (Mymensinghi: মোমেনসিঙ্গা Momensiṅgā or মমিনসিঙ্গা Momisiṅgā) is an Eastern Indo-Aryan language of the Bengali-Assamese branch spoken in the greater Mymensingh region of Bangladesh. It is one of the dialects of the Bengali language, Though some linguists consider Mymensinghi its own language.

## Names

Mymensinghi language is locally known as Momensinga and Moimensinga. It is also referred to as Mymensingiyo, Moymonsingha, Maimensingha or simply Mymensingh.

## Geographical distribution

The Mymensinghi language is common in almost all districts of Mymensingh Division of Bangladesh. It is the main spoken dialect of many local residents of Kishoreganj and Tangail districts of Dhaka division outside Mymensingh division. Additionally, it is spoken by people in some areas of the neighboring Meghalaya state in India, as well as the Gazipur, Kurigram and Sunamganj districts of Bangladesh.

## Grammar and Comparison

Mymensinghi speakers generally produce consonantal sounds with reduced aspiration. For example, the Bengali consonant ‘চ’ is pronounced with less force than its counterpart in Standard Bengali. Similarly, the sound corresponding to ‘প’ is articulated in a less aspirated manner. In addition, the language shows variation in the realization of certain affricates and fricatives. The aspirated affricate typically corresponding to ‘ছ’ is pronounced as a voiceless fricative, while in specific verb forms—especially when preceded or followed by consonants such as ‘ল’, ‘ন’, ‘স’, ‘শ’, ‘ষ’ or ‘জ’ final segments may be realized with greater distinctiveness. Moreover, vowel quality is subject to regional shifts; for instance, the inherent vowels ‘ই’ and ‘উ’ are used in particular post-action constructions and the vowel sound typically represented as ‘ও’ may shift toward a pronunciation akin to ‘উ’. Semi-nasal articulations also occur, substituting for full nasal vowels in certain lexical items.
The morphology of the Mymensinghi language retains several features that distinguish it from the standard language. A notable example is the use of the accusative marker ‘রে’ with singular direct objects, as seen in constructions analogous to Standard Bengali’s marking for the object of a transitive verb. Furthermore, in forming the future tense, speakers add the suffix ‘রাম’ to the first-person singular verb root (e.g., “করাম” for “I will do”), reflecting a systematic morphological variation in verbal inflection. The Mymensingh dialect has mid-front and back vowel mergers.
A comparison of Standard Bengali and Mymensinghi is presented below:
       (M=male indicated, P= person indicated, without gender)
| English | Standard Bengali | Mymensinghi |
| Will eat | Khabo (খাব) | Khayam (খায়াম) |
| Together/With | Shathe/Shoṅge (সাথে/সঙ্গে) | Loge (লগে) |
| They | She (সে) | He (হে) |
| Taka | Ṭaka (টাকা) | Ṭeha (টেহা) |
| Dhaka | Ḍhaka (ঢাকা) | Ḍaha (ডাহা) |
| Good | Bhalo (ভালো) | Bala (বালা) |
| Pain | Byatha (ব্যাথা) | Byadna (ব্যাদনা) |
| Medicine | Ouṣudh/Oṣudh (ঔষধ/ওষুধ) | Uṣud (উষুদ) |
| Person | Lok (লোক) | Beḍa(M)/Luk(P) (বেডা/লুক) |
| Boy/Son | Chhele/Putro (ছেলে/পুত্র) | Put/Ṗut/Chhera (পুত/ফুত/ছেরা) |
| Broom | Jhaṛu/Jhaṭa (ঝাড়ু/ঝাটা) | Hasun/Zaḍa (হাসুন/জাডা) |