মৎস্যজীবী থেকে মউলে : পেশা পরিবর্তনে ভাষার নির্মাণ, একটি সমাজভাষাকেন্দ্রিক অনুসন্ধান/ From Fishermen to Moule : The construction of language in Occupational Transition-A Sociolinguistic Inquiry

Abstract

Sundarban is the largest mangrove forest in the world. At the same time, its recognition as a heritage site is significant not only in india but across the entire world. Moreover, the Sundarban is also rich in forest resources. The indian sundarban is composed of thirteen blocks of south 24 parganas and six blocks of north 24 parganas. But if on looks at the lives of the people in this predator-infested region, it becomes clear that this global recognition fades into the background, and their economic poverty and despair come to the forefront. In order to survive the daily struggle of life and to preserve their existence and indentity, the people here have to engage in an uncompromising conflict with nature. Many people have built their economic dependence around the Sundarbans, but at the same time, it also bears the stigma of countless live being lost. Due to economic hardship, the inhabitants of Sundarbans have become dependent on water-and forest-based occupations. Among these, fishing and honey collection are two major and riskey professions. However, alongside these traditional occupations are closly linked the rise and fall of society, culture customs, beliefs, and values, which are primarily expressed through language. The study of this intrinsic relationship between language and society is the subject of sociolinguistics.

            Sociolinguistics is one of the most prominent branches of linguistics. As early as the beginning of the 1950s, sociolinguistics began to feel the necessity of this field. However, in the early stages, many linguists found it difficult to accept it, because they believed that language is not something separate from society. Therefore, the relationship between society and language seemed quite natural and not significant enough to become a separate area of study. But the various dimensions of language formation in society-such as education, profession, age and gender- have had a profound influence on language and have created diversity within it. This influence became impossible for linguists to ignore any longer.

            Professional plays a remarkable role in shaping and expanding the relationship between society and language. During the breeding season of fish, when fishing in the river is completely prohibited for fishermen, they turn to the forest to engage in honey collection. However, when they shift from being fishermen to becoming honey collector (Moule), their identity nature of work, language of work, culture, folk beliefs, and customs all undergo significant changes. The objective of this paper is to examine, from a sociolinguistics perspective, the kinds of changes and variation that occur in language alongside this occupational shift among the inhabitants of the Sundarbans.