Phonology Bengali language

the phonemic inventory of standard bengali consists of 29 consonants , 7 vowels, 7 nasalized vowels. inventory set out below in international phonetic alphabet (upper grapheme in each box) , romanization (lower grapheme).

bengali known wide variety of diphthongs, combinations of vowels occurring within same syllable. 2 of these, /oi̯/ , /ou̯/, ones representation in script, ঐ , ঔ respectively. /e̯ i̯ o̯ u̯/ may form glide part of diphthong. total number of diphthongs not established, bounds @ 17 , 31. incomplete chart given sarkar (1985) of following:

stress

in standard bengali, stress predominantly initial. bengali words virtually trochaic; primary stress falls on initial syllable of word, while secondary stress falls on odd-numbered syllables thereafter, giving strings such in সহযোগিতা shô-hô-jo-gi-ta cooperation , boldface represents primary , secondary stress.

consonant clusters

native bengali words not allow initial consonant clusters; maximum syllabic structure cvc (i.e. 1 vowel flanked consonant on each side). many speakers of bengali restrict phonology pattern, when using sanskrit or english borrowings, such গেরাম geram (cv.cvc) গ্রাম gram (ccvc) village or ইস্কুল iskul (vc.cvc) স্কুল skul (ccvc) school .