Ethnologue 14 report for language code:BNG

BENGALI: a language of Bangladesh

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: BNG

ISO 639-1: bn

ISO 639-2: ben

Population

100,000,000 in Bangladesh (1994 UBS), 98% of the population (1990 WA). Population total all countries 207,000,000 first language speakers (1999 WA), 211,000,000 including second language speakers (1999 WA).

Region

Western. Also spoken in India, Malawi, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE, United Kingdom, USA.

Alternate names

BANGA-BHASA, BANGALA, BANGLA

Classification

Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone, Bengali-Assamese.

Comments

Languages or dialects in the Bengali group according to Grierson: Central (Standard) Bengali, Western Bengali (Kharia Thar, Mal Paharia, Saraki), Southwestern Bengali, Northern Bengali (Koch, Siripuria), Rajbangsi, Bahe, Eastern Bengali (East Central, including Sylhetti), Haijong, Southeastern Bengali (Chakma), Ganda, Vanga, Chittagonian (possible dialect of Southeastern Bengali). National language. Bengali script used. Muslim. Bible 1809-1998.

Also spoken in:

India

Language name	BENGALI
Population	70,561,000 in India (1997 IMA).
Alternate names	BANGALA, BANGLA, BANGLA-BHASA
Dialects	BARIK, BHATIARI, CHIRMAR, KACHARI-BENGALI, LOHARI-MALPAHARIA, MUSSELMANI, RAJSHAHI, SAMARIA, SARAKI, SIRIPURIA (KISHANGANJIA).
Comments	Spoken by some Koda as mother tongue. Investigation needed: intelligibility with dialects. National language, official language. Literacy rate in first language: 85%. Bengali script. Muslim, Hindu, Christian. Bible 1809-1998. See main entry under Bangladesh.

Nepal

Language name	BENGALI
Population	27,712 in Nepal, 0.15% of the population (1991 census).
Alternate names	BANGALA, BANGLA, BANGLA-BHASA
Dialects	BARIK, BHATIARI, CHIRMAR, KACHARI-BENGALI, LOHARI-MALPAHARIA, MUSSELMANI, RAJSHAHI, SAMARIA, SARAKI, SIRIPURIA.
Comments	Literacy rate in second language: 51.2%. Hindu. Bible 1809-1998. See main entry under Bangladesh.

Singapore

Language name	BENGALI
Population	600 speakers in Singapore (1985), out of 12,000 in the ethnic group in Singapore (1993 Johnstone).
Comments	National language. Bengali script. Hindu, Muslim. Bible 1809-1998. See main entry under Bangladesh.