The sweetest indian language ?

steadyfriend

Both Bengali and Urdu are sweet languages in their own different ways.

Bengali is sweet in the sense of being softly-spoken with no harsh sounds and feelings. Many a time, one replies merely by feelings expressed through eyes, for example. If anyone has watched old Bengali movies, esp. Suchitra-Uttam tear-jerkers, one would know what I mean. Satyajit Ray also used this facility of the language to optimum effect.

The sweetness of Urdu comes from a rich, varied vocabulary drawn principally from Arabic and Persian. Many words are gluttaral and nasalised. And of course, stylistic forms of speech in Urdu are its speciality.

Overall, it appears Bengali would pip Urdu to the post for being the sweetest Indian language.

singsub

if i know right urdu comes from a mix of hindi/sanskrit and persian

capt_mahajan

Politely disagree.

Politely and strongly, actually

steadyfriend

Hats off to you, Captain ! Not only are you in charge of 'navel affairs' as well of 'birds & bees', you now espouse the cause of politeness and strength too ! My God, how many more cards have you got hidden up your sleeve ?

Dilliwala

We still don't know how many sleeves he's got, never mind cards per.

steadyfriend

I agree wih you, however the mixture known as Urdu has more to it than that !

The grammar of Urdu is derived mainly from Sanskrit; about 50% of its basic vocabulary (in common with Hindi) arises from a dialect called 'khari boli', which originatd in the Indo-Gangetic plain. The rest of its vocabulary is from Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Sanskrit etc., and even English.

An example of words derived from English would be "membraan-e-kaunsil", i.e. 'council members', much used while the British ruled India. Nowadays, this compound word is replaced by its exotic Persian equivalent.

steadyfriend

I have to take issue over this. Like most things in India, it is not so simple! There is more to it than being just a case of an Aryan-versus-Dravidian divide !

1) Experts agree that the only Indian language of non-Sankrit origin is Tamil and even that now incorporates many Sanskrit words.

2) All other Indian languages, inc. Urdu, originate from Sanskrit.

3) In a survey of Indian languages, it was found that Telegu is nearest to Sanskrit, as 92% of it is of Sanskrit origin. Bengali was second, with 85% Sanskrit origin words, while Hindi lagged behind in the third position, as over time it had absorbed many Persian and Arabic words.