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ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2394-9392 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJSS/ISSN 2454-2997/2015; Volume 6 Issue 1 (2019)

USAGE OF DIALECT AND CODE-MIXING IN ‘AUSAMAPTA ATMAJIBONI’ (THE UNFINISHED MEMOIRS): A SOCIOLINGUISTIC OBSERVATION

SHUVENDHU SAHA TITHI DEBNATH Lecturer, Department of Bangla, Noakhali Science and Lecturer, Department of Bangla, Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU), Technology University (NSTU), Bangladesh [email protected] [email protected]

Abstract

Bangabandhu is one of the most popular and idealized people among the many undocumented leaders whose political life in Bangladesh has been discussed in the chronological order of history. The autobiography, which he wrote in jail in the mix of humanitarian issues of personal life with the flow of political events of the period up to 1938-55, has suddenly become the focus of interest of the reader. That’s why, perhaps, the name of this book is ‘Ausamapta Atmajiboni’ (The Unfinished Memoirs). So the book's literary value is immense besides its political value. But the thing that goes beyond the mentioned subject is the use of language in the book. Although there is limitation of research work on this rather than the need, there are many aspects of dialect in this book, which is based on the society, politics, economics and human values particularly speaking is the formation of new words and sentences in combination with one language and another. Thus, this study is founded on a logical basis for analyzing in the light of sociolinguistics.

Keyword: Bangabandhu, Bangladesh, Code-mixing, Dialect, Register,

Introduction

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was research is required on whether ‘Ausamapta one of those whose new philosophy brought Atmajiboni’ (The Unfinished Memoirs) about revolutionary changes in the should be included in the biographical development of Bangla language and literature or not. However, it is evident after nationalism as well as subcontinent politics. the analysis of language of the book that the In addition to the lifelong political activities author has used code-mixing, registers, of this ‘Poet of politics’, his legendary dialects very nicely with the coherence of speeches also have been referred to as time which has created new appeal in words political poetry (News week: 1971). While and sentences. Use of daily life words with autobiography was not prevalent in the professional words, standard language with beginning of the middle era of Bangla dialect and the combination of other literature, autobiography began to take a languages ​ ​ with Bangla language, are new look as biographical literature in also evident in this book. The author use modern Bangla literature. Moreover, further prefixes, adjectives, inflexion, symbols to add extra emphasis to the word while ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2394-9392 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJSS/ISSN 2454-2997/2015; Volume 6 Issue 1 (2019) writing this book. Considering the containing his ceaseless pain. Although composition period, the book is written in incomplete, the history of this text is very the standard language of the then East valuable. Literary value is also infinite. For (present Bangladesh), also found the these reasons, initiatives were taken to use of the dialect of Faridpur region. publish it in book form. The book contains Context and retrospective analysis of the context of Sheikh Mujib's autobiography, ‘Ausamapta Atmajiboni’ (The Unfinished the author's lineage, birth, childhood, Memoirs) academic life, social and political activities. This autobiographical book authored by This book is basically written about the flow Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920-75), the first of events during the period of 1938-55. The President of the People's Republic of book depicts the 1943 of Bengal, Bangladesh and known as Bangabandhu and riots in Bihar and Kolkata, the partition, the the (The undisputable politics of the Kolkata-based provincial leader in the historical cycle of Bangladesh). Muslim Students League and Muslim The title of the book implies that the book is League. Sheikh Mujib also highlighted the incomplete and self-contained. It’s not a partition of the country. This book is also portrait of the whole picture of his eventful the chronological description of history of life, but a part of his personal and political the maladministration of the life that has come up in his pen. The book government, founding of the , was first published in June 2012 by The establishment of the United Front, formation University Press Limited (UPL) in two of the government through winning the languages: Bangla and English. The book elections. There is widespread talk of was translated into English by Pakistani mismanagement. The book begins University Professor Dr. . The with a page of notebook written by book has been translated into 11 languages Bangabandhu. In which he wrote- “As a ​ ​ so far: English, Hindi, , Japanese, man, what concerns mankind concerns me. France, Mandarin, Arabic, Turkish, Nepali, As a Bangalee, I am deeply involved in all Spanish, and Assamese. Besides, that concerns Bengalees. This abiding translations are going on into Russian, involvement is born of and nourished by Italian and Malay language. The love, enduring love, which gives meaning to introduction of this book is written by my politics and to my very being” (Rahman: , daughter of the author of the 2012). The compelling start of book and present Prime Minister of autobiography strengthens the literary basis Bangladesh. According to the introduction of the writing. In simple confession, Mujib of the book- Sheikh Hasina suddenly got writes: “My Friends keep telling me, ‘Why four accounts of notebook in 2004 written don’t you write your memories?’ My by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Sheikh Mujib colleagues keep saying, ‘Write down your started writing the transcript in the middle of experience of politics; it will prove to be use the prison in the middle of the year of 1967. one day.’ My wife told me one day while But he could not finish the writing sitting with me in a room within the jail gate, ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2394-9392 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJSS/ISSN 2454-2997/2015; Volume 6 Issue 1 (2019)

‘Since you are idle, write about your life and Kolkata and described the history of now.’ I told her, ‘I can’t write, and in any partition. He shed light on the conspiracy to case what have I done that is worth writing take away the Bangla language. The episode about? Will the public benefit from the outlined various discriminatory policies with stories of my life? I haven’t been able to . The book referenced the great achieve anything! I guess all I can say is that politicians of his time. Among them Sher-E I have tried to sacrifice a bit of me for my Bangla A. K. Fazlul Haq, Huseyn Shaheed principles and ideals” (Rahman: 2012). This Suhrawardy and Khan role reaches him at the highest place of Bhashani are predominant. He also ideology. At the beginning, the great leader mentioned his close contact with them in his also appeared with great modesty. He autobiography. However, when the book is mentioned his lineage and many of the men finished to read, a sigh of relief grows. It of the Sheikh clan. He was born on March seems, if the leader or writer Mujibur 17, 1920. He started his schooling at English Rahman would have written a little more! School founded by Dada Khan Saheb Then we could learn more about the sixth Sheikh Abdur Rashid. However, he said in points, the mass movement of the 1969 and his autobiography that he was of a very the liberation war of Bangladesh through the mischievous nature but not of quiet eyes of great leader. But, it didn't. Perforce, discipline. He used to play sports and sing. the thirst stays. Hence, Sumit Mitra in the He had to break his study for four years due review of The Hindustan Times says “The to his physical illness during his childhood. problem is, it is unfinished. Far from taking His writings inform us about the the story anywhere near its climax of development of his mental sensibility in Bangladesh’s birth, the narrative vanishes childhood. Bangabandhu was protagonist somewhere in the 1950s” (Mitra: 2012). since his childhood. Therefore, as a boy, Bangabandhu came to know what the prison Dialect was. In his autobiography, he writes about The word ‘Dialect’ was first used in English staying in the women's ward during his first in the sixteenth century. This word was used imprisonment. This is known to all, the son widely in Greek language and later it was of history became involved with politics adopted in English from Latin and French. since his schooling. However, the book The meaning of ‘Dialect’ in Greek was-the contains a consistent and accurate nature of talking. In old English, the description. In 1941, when Mujib was meaning of ‘Dialect’ had been-the form of matriculated, he spent his days with politics. language used by a particular community. In 1943, when Sheikh Mujib was a member Dialect is generally dependent upon culture of the Provincial Muslim League Council, a and locality. Dialect differs with respect to severe famine broke out in Bengal. Young society as it is also found to be varied with leader Sheikh Mujib has written in his book respect to social class, ethnicity or about his own initiative in dealing with this individuals. These are proved that, ‘A famine. He mentioned the riots in Bihar dialect that is associated with a ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2394-9392 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJSS/ISSN 2454-2997/2015; Volume 6 Issue 1 (2019) particular social class can be termed researchers go about their work of a sociolect, a dialect that is associated with a describing, explaining and predicting particular ethnic group can be termed an phenomena are called research methodology. ethnolect, and a geographical/regional This paper used mixed methodology (both dialect may be termed as qualitative and quantitative) to gain the regiolect.’(Wolfram, Walt and Schilling, objectives of this study. For collecting data, Natalie: 2016). thorough reading of book was conducted. Code-mixing Collected data was presented in tables and Code-mixing is found to be co-existing in qualitative form. bilingual situation. In other words, when one language gets coherently mixed up at Findings different levels grammatically with another language while conversing, delivering Use of Dialect in ‘Ausamapta Atmajiboni’ lecture or presenting something in written (The Unfinished Memoirs) forms, then this type of mixing is called From the ‘Ausamapta Atmajiboni’(The code-mixing. Code-mixing is more or less Unfinished Memoirs) of the writer, one can seen in all languages of the world possesses. know that he was born and grew up in On code-mixing, linguist Kasaru said, Tungipara which belonged to Gopalganj, a “Code-mixing is the use of one or more subdivision of the district of Faridpur of the languages for consistent transfer of one or then British Presidency of Bengal. It is more linguistic units from one language into natural that the writer was influenced by the another, and by such a language mixture local culture, food habits and customs as developing a restricted or not-so-restricted much as he was impacted by the local code of linguistic interaction. (Kasaru: dialect whose influence becomes apparent in 1978).” The Unfinished Memoirs. It is essential to It is not that code-mixing often takes place highlight the primary information related to between two or three languages. In some the dialect before one ventures to analyze cases code-mixing can also happen between the use of dialect. two different forms of the same languages Different linguists have discussed a lot, and men use code mixing both consciously dividing the dialects of Bangladesh or the and unconsciously. In this situation, it is then into different types which generally seen that standard form language were dependent upon regional boundaries. gets mixed up with regional dialect or Structure of language is here emphasized dialect. less. Sir George Abraham Grierson, Dr. Suniti Kumar Chatterji and Dr. Muhammad Research Methodology Shahidullah are the prominent linguists who Research methodology is a systematic way emphasized regionality of languages. It is to solve a problem. It is a science of observed in the position that the author of studying how research is to be carried out. the unfinished biography adopted and in his Essentially, the procedures by which narrative that the dialect used in this book ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2394-9392 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJSS/ISSN 2454-2997/2015; Volume 6 Issue 1 (2019) belongs to the region of Faridpur or present it bears mentioning here that this writer has day district of Gopalganj. If we seek to always used /nai/ instead of /nei/ which in analyze the dialect extant in the district of English means- No. For example: Gopalganj, then it is seen that Sir George Grierson includes this dialect as part of the Code-mixing In ‘Ausamapta Atmajiboni’ East, Dr. Suniti Kumar Chatterji as part of (The Unfinished Memoirs) Bangalee dialect and Dr. Muhammad Upon reading ‘Ausamapta Atmajiboni’ (The Shahidullah as South East Part of the East. Unfinished Memoirs), it is found that the writer Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has used Usage of Idiolect code-mixing in many places. In some places, Through a linguistic analysis of Sheikh he has consciously used code-mixing while Mujibur Rahman’s ‘Ausamapta Atmajiboni’ in some other places, he has used code- (The Unfinished Memoirs), it is found that mixing with a view to making meanings he has his own linguistic style which he has more relevant. However, before analyzing used from the beginning of the book to its code-mixing, it is essential to mean what end. We can call it an individualistic code-mixing is. example in the sight of sociolinguistics. By individualistic language we mean that usage Usage of Code-mixing In ‘Ausamapta of language which an individual uses in the Atmajiboni’ (The Unfinished Memoirs) context of varied environment situations, It is essential to make it clear before any reflecting his individualistic or idiosyncratic discussion on code-mixing that actually characteristics. Harper and Douglas rightly people use code-mixing in circumstances, comment, ‘An idiolect is the variety of depending upon social considerations, language unique to an individual. This educational qualifications, knowledge of differs from a dialect, a common set of language and social milieu. Educated people linguistic characteristics shared among some are found to be bilingual in Bangladesh at group of people. The term is etymologically present or before. We can explain code- related to the Greek prefix idio- (meaning mixing in the sight of Sociolinguistics in ‘own, personal, private, peculiar, separate, consideration of bilingual knowledge and distinct’) and a back-formation from socio-economic circumstances. It is better dialect.’ (Harper, Douglas: 2019). to say, ‘The bilingual speakers do not use Some examples of idiolect usages: language in the way they do simply because 1. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman used both /guli/ of their social identities or because of other and /gulo/ while using plural number but situational factors, rather, they exploit the only emphasized upon /guli/ possibility of linguistic choices in order to convey intentional meaning of socio- 2. People generally use negative words pragmatic nature.’ (Blom and Gumperz: while writing. It is found that many negative 1972). word have been used in the ‘Ausamapta Atmajiboni’ (The Unfinished Memoirs). But ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2394-9392 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJSS/ISSN 2454-2997/2015; Volume 6 Issue 1 (2019)

The writer of the Unfinished Autobiography, words mixing with Bangla. We can term it Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has used code- as “Lexicalization” in inter word. Besides, mixing in three different ways. For example: many English words which synonyms have 1. The writer knew Bangla, English, Urdu been used. and he had also elementary knowledge of Author used a number of Bangla suffixes, Arabic. It is natural in that depending upon prefixes, inflexion and plural marker to mix- his own multilinguality, the writer used up with English word to maintain the code-mixing. In this context, code mixing of lexicalization process. For example: both Bangla and English are found immensely. In other words, it is- Bangla- 2. Standard Bangla-Regional Dialect English Code-mixing. Code-mixing in ‘Ausamapta Atmajiboni’ 2. In addition, he has mixed the dialect of (The Unfinished Memoirs) Gopalganj with the Standard from of Bangla By going through The Unfinished Memoirs, language. In other words, it is Standard it is found that the book is written in Bangla-Regional Dialect (Gopalganj) Code- Standard Bangla. But the writer being mixing. involved in politics for a long time, he has 3. He has also used professional word used as many professional words as he has known as ‘Register’ and in his daily life used many local words since he has been word. In other words, Daily life word- man of the then . In most Register Code-mixing. cases, the writer has used words of the 4. In some places, Sadhu Bangla is found to Eastern region by mixing them with the be mixed with colloquial Bangla. Standard ones. But these are less in number. If we seek to show the proportionate usages According to code mixing as used in this of code-mixing of these four types, then it text, its proportion in percentage stands at became clear that code-mixing has taken 16.87%. For example: place approximately 243 times (if any word 3. Daily Life word-Register Code-mixing or sentence has been used more than once, In ‘Ausamapta Atmajiboni’ (The then that has not been included in this Unfinished Memoirs) counting.) The following table exhibits the An important subject of Sociolinguistics is number of code-mixing of words or Register or professional word. The words or sentences and their frequencies and structure of sentences which people use in percentages of the same: their daily or individual lives are not used by them in their professional or work places. 1. Bangla-English Code-mixing in Similarly, they do not practice work place ‘Ausamapta Atmajiboni’ (The Unfinished words in their individual lives. Those words Memoirs) which are used in professional lives can be In the ‘Ausamapta Atmajiboni’ (The explained as register from general Unfinished Memoirs), we find two types of perspectives. William Labov and his fellow code-mixing of both Bangla and English. American linguistics have termed these as One is centered on words, such as English ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2394-9392 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJSS/ISSN 2454-2997/2015; Volume 6 Issue 1 (2019)

“Functional varieties of a language (Nath: It is true that ample political analysis has 1999). been done about the political activities of How people use language in the context of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who was one of varied milieu or conditions has been called the stalwarts of Bangladesh and Bengali’s Register by the British linguist Halliday. political philosophy, mixed up his political According to him, “The name given to a activities with the events of his individual variety of a language distinguished life and introduced a new concept but according to use is Register (Halliday, 1964). linguistic analysis of the same have hardly Since Sheikh Mujibur Rahman has been a been done. Author Sheikh Mujibur Rahman professional politician and since he has has written his Unfinished Autobiography confronted different political milieu and with a lot of political and individual events conditions, his use of language exhibits and issues. However, the book has still myriad of words related to politics. This is remained unfinished while simultaneously why he has naturally used many words increasing the thirst of the readers. Whatever which can be called as register in the sight the author accomplished needs both political of Sociolinguistics. Simultaneously, it is as well as literary reading because this also noticeable that the author has mixed historic text has both political and literary daily life words while seeking to use register. importance. However, it is not easy to It appears that he has used code-mixing interpret its information in the sight of both consciously. The proportion of code-mixing linguistics and social issues. Dialect is an used in this book is 24.27%. important topic of Sociolinguistics. It has For example: National Assembly, been found from the standpoint of code- Constitution, Election, General Secretary, mixing that though the writer is an important caretaker, Democracy, governor, nomination, member of the society, he has presented party, President, , communist, different aspects of life by weaving them in partition, Movement etc. simple language in his autobiography. He In this case author used only English word. has also consciously emphasized as much on But he didn’t use Roman (English) letter. He the usage of both words and sentences with used Register in Bangla letter via a view to creating a special appeal of dialect transliteration method. as he has sought to remove the rigidity of 4. Sadhu-Colloquial Bangla Code-Mixing language through code-mixing. By side As Sadhu form of Bangla was the medium tracking all types of ambiguities, he, while of official format of language, author used seeking to highlight many aspects of Sadhu-Colloquial code-mixing for several political life, has used many professional times in ‘Ausamapta Atmajiboni’ (The words that we can call Register from the Unfinished Memoirs). According to code- standpoint of Sociolinguistics. He has used mixing as used in this text, its proportion in many aspects of code-mixing which percentage stands at 6.58%. flourished the literary value of the book. As Conclusion a result, the book has easily been a reader friendly one. This is, indeed, an ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2394-9392 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJSS/ISSN 2454-2997/2015; Volume 6 Issue 1 (2019) extraordinary text since it is a reflection of Perspective, International Journal of then social system prevailing in Bengal. sociology and Language.Labov, W. Moreover, it delves into the world of politics, (1972b). Sociolinguistics Patterns. family stories, humanitarian episode, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania foreshadowing of Bangladesh, future Press. economic philosophy and the prehistory of [4] Manzur M. A. K.. (2010). Adhunik the Language Movement. Comparatively Bhashatato:(Modern Linguistics), Mowla speaking, one may not find much linguistic Brothers, Dhaka value of it but the meaning of this [5] Nath, M. (1999). Bhasha o Samaj: extraordinary text is no less. To be sure, it is (Language and Society), Naya Udyog, a lively book in the sight of the lucidity of Kolkata. its language, language variation, use of the [6] Rahman, S. M. (2012). Ausamapta dialect and code-mixing. Atmajiboni: (TheUnfinished Memoirs), The university press limited, Dhaka. References [7] Rahman, S. M (2012).TheUnfinished Memoirs, The university press limited, [1] Blom, J. P. & Gumperz J. J. (1972). Dhaka Social Meaning in Linguistic Structures: [8] Wolfram, W., & Schilling, N. (2016). Code-switching in Norway. In J. J. American English: Dialects and Variation. Gumperz, & D. Hymes (Eds.), Directions West sussex : John wiley and Sons. in sociolinguistics (pp. 409-434). New [9] Mitra, S. Review: The Unfinished York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston Memoirs: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, The [2] Halliday, M. A. K., A McIntosh and P. Hindustan Times, 8 August 2012. Strevens (1964). Linguistic science and [10] Poet of Politics, Newsweek, New Language Teaching. Longman, London York, 5 . [3] Kachru, B. B. (1978). Towards [11] Harper, D. "-lect". Etymology Online. structuring Code-Mixing: An Indian Retrieved September 2019. ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2394-9392 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJSS/ISSN 2454-2997/2015; Volume 6 Issue 1 (2019)

List of Tables Table 1: Example 1 of Idiolect usages

Bangla Sentence Transliteration English Translation Page no

†eKvi †nv‡÷‡j KZ¸wj /bekar hostle-e kotoguli Baker hostle had a number of free 37 wd« iæg wQj, Mixe free room chilo, gorib rooms for poor students Qv·`i Rb¨ chatroder jonno/

†kl ch©šÍ mg¯Í avb /shes porjonto somosto of course in the end they were 104 bvwg‡q †i‡L dhan namiye rekhe allowed to leave after their †jvK¸wj‡K †Q‡o †`qv lokgulike chere deya share(rice) had been offloaded. nj holo/

Table 2: Example 2 of Idiolect usages

Bangla Sentence Transliteration English Translation Page no

AviI A‡bK Avjvc /aro onek alap hoyechilo, We had covered a lot of issues 36 n‡qwQj, Avgvi wVK amar thik mone nai/ while we were there through g‡b bvB now I can’t remember them all.

nK mv‡ne gš¿xmfv /huq saheb montrisobha This was when I had not yet 275 MVb K‡i‡Qb, Avwg gothon korechen, ami joined Mr. Huq’s provincial ZL‡bv gš¿x nB bvB tokhono montri hoi nai/ ministry.

Table 3: Number of Code-mixing In different part In ‘Ausamapta Atmajiboni’ (The Unfinished Memoirs)

Total No. of Bangla-English Standard Bangla- Daily Life word- Sadhu-Colloquial Code-mixing Code-mixing Regional dialect Register Code- Bangla Code- ELK ASIA PACIFIC JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE ISSN 2394-9392 (Online); DOI: 10.16962/EAPJSS/ISSN 2454-2997/2015; Volume 6 Issue 1 (2019)

(243) Code-mixing mixing mixing Number of Code- 127 41 59 16 mixing Percentage 52.26 16.87 24.27 6.58

Table 4: Example of Bangla-English Code-mixing

Example Transliteration Code-mixing Page no wUPvi-iv /teacher-ra/ teacher(English)+ra(Bangla inflexion) 18

†KvU©-G /court-e/ court (English)+e(Bangla inflexion) 6 fvBm P¨v‡Ýji- /vice chancellor- vice chancellor (English) +er(Bangla 117 Gi er/ inflexion)

†cÖwm‡W›U- /president-der/ president(English)+der(Bangla plural 105 †`i marker)

Table 5: Example of Standard Bangla-Regional Dialct Code-mixing

Example Transliteration English Comments Page no Meaning c¨v‡Ûj Kijvg /pandal korlam I constructed a Here badam(Sails) 20 †bŠKvi ev`vg noukar badam pandal made out is a dialectical word w`‡q diye/ of sails