Rameswar Shaw and Bengali Philology/ রামেশ্বর শ’ ও বাংলা ভাষাতত্ত্ব

Abstract

Philology is probably the least talked about and visibly strange and boring trend in the different stream of Bengali language and literature discussion. Linguist Prof. (Dr.) Rameswar Shaw has analyzed this boring and inaccessible subject in simple language and made it juicy and vivid by his talent and hard work. He established the theory of Bengali language based on the basic principles of linguistics. In the light of comparative linguistics, he rebuilt Bengali as its source language or mother tongue by comparing it with related languages. At the same time, with the help of historical linguistics, he has touched the different levels of Indian Arya language, as well as the origin, history and division of Bengali language, as well as the thorough analysis of the formation of contemporary Bengali language, it has become attractive and understandable to the reader.

            The development of discussion and research about language in a scientific manner is a very modern phenomenon. However, the questioning of the minds of people in the East and the West began in ancient time. The earliest traces of linguistics are found in India and were quite glorious. The greatest epitome of ancient India is Panini's ‘Astadhyayi’ (4th century BC). Linguistic discussions are not documented in the Vedic Samhita in the pre-Panini or pre-Panini period, but some discussions are available from there. Panini followed a period of barrenness of language-practice in India; Later, philosophers such as Katyayana (Bartika), Patanjali (Mahabhashya), Bhartrihari (Vakyapadiya) enriched the field of linguistics. Whatever may have been the glory of linguistics in ancient India, the practice of linguistics in India almost declined during the medieval period. But in the new era, the lost glory of India got a new life and it can be said that the practice of linguistics today is rightly based on the linguistic practice of that day. Linguistics has developed many approaches to understanding the nature, purpose, norms, etc. of language in the modern world, each of which is called a ‘stream’ of linguistics. At present the three main branches of linguistics are—

                                                                   I.          Section of Comparative Linguistics

                                                                 II.          The stream of historical linguistics

                                                               III.          Discipline of Descriptive Linguistics

            Linguist Rameshwar Shaw enriched diffrent disciplines of linguistics through his research work and long career. On this subject, he wrote his timeless work ‘Sadharan Bhasavijnan o Bangla Bhasa’ and his research book ‘Synchronic comparative Phonology of Bengali and German’. In addition, he has written several articles on language in his book entitled ‘Adhunik Banla Upanyaser Patabhumi O Bividha Prasanga’ (2006); which bear the identity of special achievements.