The Possible and the Impossible in Bengali Word

Formation: Some Problems in Nominalization

UDAYA NARAYANA SINGH and SUCHITA SINGH

This study makes a modest attempt to consider certain productive word for-
mation rules in Bengali and tries to determine why certain potential but non-
existing words can gain acceptability among native speakers whereas certain
others are not at all acceptable. An attempt will be made to give a psycho-
semantic interpretation to this problem which alone can explain what is possi-
ble and what is impossible in Bengali. In particular, this study is an attempt to
understand the properties of noun formation rules by considering the entire
verbal stock of Bengali in relation to certain formative a½xes.

1. Introduction
This paper is concerned with the internal structure of Bengali words. In par-
ticular, it deals with certain possible nominals and adjectivals in Bengali
derivable from the basic verbs. The productivity of certain derivational suf-
®xes in Bengali (such as ‡On and ‡naa changing verbs to nouns and that
of ‡(u)ni deriving adjectives from verbs) will be tested here.

2. Methodology
In order to exhaust the nominal and other constructions under consider-
ation, a large lexical database was ®rst created using dBase III Plus by in-
putting 6,251 verbal entries obtained from one of the standard dictionaries
in BengaliÐthe Sahitya Samsad Dictionary. This included a large number
of conjunct verbs, causative forms with some semantic di¨erences in shades
of meaning, and the non-causative -no verbs, out of which an exhaustive set
of 219 verbs was considered for this exercise in word generation to see if
there was a pattern. The 250-odd non-causative roots with -no, which are
listed in the appendix, were kept out of our list, because they would not par-
ticipate in a construction involving -on.
The data described here also includes possible but unavailable forms,
which have been shown within parentheses with a question mark preceding

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 37)
 38 Udaya Narayana Singh and Suchita Singh

them. These are, indeed, forms which may or may not have actual realiza-
tion but which must have been in conformity with the phonological, syntac-
tic and semantic pattern of the language, which is evident from the fact that
they pass the test of informant elicitation as possible (but unavailable)
entries.

3. Theoretical Background
Generative grammarians have only recently reached some kind of consen-
sus regarding the properties of word formation processes and rules. But the
issue as to where exactly this process of word formation takes place still re-
mains unresolved. Whereas Kiparsky (1982) and Mohanan (1982) advocate
that it occurs at the phonological level, Fabb (1984) and many others claim
that it takes place in syntax. The argument seems to be that syntax not only
has a role in the in¯ection of a given word but that it also plays a crucial
role in word formation, particularly in the case of compoundings. Fabb
(1984) postulates a set of diagnostics to determine whether word formation
is a lexical or a syntactic phenomenon. According to him, for instance, a
word formation process is syntactic if it (i) is productive, (ii) does not vio-
late the Projection Principle, and (iii) is semantically transparent. Arono¨
(1976), in contrast to Fabb's claim for the syntactic role in the productive
process, argues that several factors combine to decide the productivity of
a process. In this study, however, we consider a few very productive pro-
cesses, which operate at the level of lexis and as such are not syntactic.
Even now, i.e. even after the introduction of many new forms in the last
few decades, they show many gaps, although the forms generated and fur-
ther generable are all semantically transparent. Although The Origin and
Development of the Bengali Language (ODBL), the voluminous work of
Chatterji (1926), did devote a few pages to the exempli®cation of use of
these as well as a few other verb-to-noun formations (ODBL, Vol II: 651±
659), we are unaware of any literature on this particular problem where
such word formation programmes are to be checked.
The productivity of a word formation rule can be judged on the basis of
the frequency and acceptability of the words which are produced by a par-
ticular word formation rule, and are listed in the lexicon. The use of a new
word depends upon the kind of productivity or the potentiality of the word
formation rule, as is evidenced by the native speakers attitude in using new
words (cf. Dowty 1979 and Dressler 1982). The general trend is the ready
acceptance of the words produced by a productive word formation rule as
against the reluctance to accept the words produced by the less productive
ones. Arono¨ (1978) advocates testing the synchronic reality of the produc-
tivity experimentallyÐby using the technique of cognitive psychology (but

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 38)
 The Possible and the Impossible in Bengali Word Formation 39

by designing the experiment linguistically). Singh and Basu (1987) report on

an experiment of a similar kind testing the social bases of productivity in
Bengali. Arono¨ (1978) hopes to discover what he calls the `morphological
competence' of the native speakers of a given language, which is also what
is tested here.

4. Aims and Objectives

This study makes a modest attempt to consider certain productive word for-
mation rules in Bengali and tries to determine which potential but non-
existing words could gain acceptability among native speakers whereas
certain other constructions are not at all acceptable. An attempt is made to
give semantic and structural classi®cation of the basic verbs of Bengali,
which show di¨erent patternsÐa classi®cation which could, at a later date,
be tested with the help of syntactic and semantic features. It is hoped that
the tentative interpretation of this problem explains what is possible as op-
posed to what is impossible in Bengali constructions in the given context. In
particular, this study is an attempt to understand the properties of noun for-
mation rules by considering the entire verbal stock of Bengali in relation to
certain formative a½xes already mentioned.

5. Structure of Data
Let us consider the following data (‡on marks a nominalization with the
interpretation: `of the state of', ‡naa has di¨erent types of meaning load,
‡uni is usually used for an individual possessing the quality of the activity
denoted by the verb, and the -i at the end indicates femininity in many
cases)

Data Structure

Head Nominal I Nominal II Adjectival

‡On ‡naa ‡(u)ni
1. aaMkaa aaMkon *aaMknaa *aaMk(u)ni
aaMkiye
2. aaMcaa Ð Ð Ð
3. aaMTaa aaMTon *aaMTnaa aaMTuni
aaMTkaa
4. aakulaa Ð Ð Ð
5. *aachaa @ thaakon *thaaknaa thaakuni
thaakaa

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 39)
 40 Udaya Narayana Singh and Suchita Singh

6. aanaa Ð Ð Ð
7. aaSaa Ð Ð Ð
8. ucchraa Ð Ð Ð
9. ubaa Ð Ð Ð
10. upjaa Ð Ð Ð
11. oThaa oThon Ð (uThti)
12. opRaa @ -(upTOn) Ð Ð
upRaa
13. oRaa oRon oRnaa uRni @ oRoni
14. olaa olon *olnaa uluni
15. kOhaa @ kOhon/kaahon *kOhnaa *kouni
kOwaa
16. kaaMdaa kaaMdon kaannaa kaaMduni
17. kaaMpaa kaaMpon *kaaMpnaa kaampuni
18. kaacaa Ð Ð Ð
19. kaaTaa *kaaTon kaaTnaa [?kaaTuni]
20. kaaRaa kaaRaan *kaaRnaa *kaaR(u)ni
21. kuMthaa kuMtaan/ *kuMthnaa *kuMthni
koM-
22. kuTaa koTon kuTnaa KuTni/kuRuni
23. kuhOraa kuhoron *kuhornaa *kuhorni
24. kenaa ?*kenon ?kinnaa/ *kinuni
kenaa
25. koMdaa koMdon *kuMdnaa kudaali
26. khaaoaa khaaon khaanaa *khaauni
27. khaaTaa *khaaTon *khaaTnaa khaaTuni
(dial)
28. khElaa khElon khElnaa [?kheluni]
29. khoMjaa *khoMjon *khoMjnaa [?khoMjuni]
30. khodaa khodon/ *khodnaa *khoduni
khodaai
31. kholaa kholon kholnaa khuluni
32. gOlaa gOlon *gOlnaa [*goluni]
33. *gOhaa gOhon gOhnaa/ *gOhni
gOynaa
34. gaaRaa gaaRon *gaaRnaa *gaaRo/uni
35. gaadaa Ð Ð Ð
36. gaalaa gaalon *gaalnaa [*gaaluni]
37. gaaoaa gaahon gaaonaa gaauni
38. gelaa gelon *gelnaa *geluni
39. golaa Ð Ð Ð
40. ghOSaa ghOSon *ghOSnaa ghiSni

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 40)
 The Possible and the Impossible in Bengali Word Formation 41

41. gheraa *gherOn *ghirnaa ?ghirni

42. ghoraa ghoron *ghornaa ghurni/
ghuruni
43. cOTaa Ð Ð Ð
44. cORaa chORon *chORnaa *choR(u)ni
45. cOlaa colon Ð [?coluni]
46. caaoaa caahon *caahnaa caahoni/
caauni
47. caaMchaa *caaMchon *caaMchnaa [?CaaMchni]
48. caakhaa *Caakhon *chaakhnaa [?chaakhoni]
(Taaknaa)
49. caaTaa caaTon *caaTnaa caaTni
50. caapaa caapon *caapnaa [?caapuni]
(caabnaa)
51. ciraa ceron *cirnaa ciruni
52. cukaa Ð Ð Ð
53. cumaa Ð Ð Ð
54. cenaa Ð Ð Ð
55. cepaa Ð Ð Ð
56. coSaa coSon *coSnaa cuSni/cuSi
57. cetaa/cetOn cetnaa *cet(u)ni
58. chORaa Ð Ð Ð
59. chOlaa chOlon chOl(o)naa *chOluni
60. chaaoaa chaaon *chaaonaa chaauni
(chaadon)
61. chaaMkaa @ *chaaMkon chaaMknaa chaaMkni
chaanaa
62. chaaMTaa chaaMTon *chaaMTnaa chaaMTuni
63. chaaMdaa chaaMdon chaaMdnaa cheni/
*chaaMdni
64. chaaRaa chaaRon *chaaRna *chaaRuni
(chaaRaan)
65. chaapaa Ð Ð Ð
66. chenRaa Ð Ð Ð
67. chuTaa choTon *chuTnaa chuTni/
chuTki
68. ckolaa cholon *cholnaa [?chulni]
(cf Maithili
cholni)
69. chEncaa *cEMcaaon *CEMcnaa cEMcaani
(cEMcaano)
70. jOmaa Ð Ð Ð

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 41)
 42 Udaya Narayana Singh and Suchita Singh

71. jOlaa jOlon *jOlnaa joluni

72. jaagaa jaagon *jaagnaa [?jaagni]
(jaagorOn)
73. jaaoaa jaaon (dial) *jaaonaa *jaauni
74. jaacaa jaacon jaacnaa [?jaacune]
75. jojhaa jojhon *jojhanaa *jujhuni
76. joTaa Ð Ð Ð
77. jhOra jhOron jhOrnaa *jhor(u)ni
78. jhaaRaa jhaaRon *jhaaRnaa jhaaRuni
79. jhoMtaa jhoMTon *jhoMTnaa ?jhuMT(n)i
80. jholaa jholon/jhulOn *jholnaa jhuluni
00
81. TOla TOlon TOlnaa ?TOluni
82. Tepa Tepon *Tepnaa Tipuni
83. ThOka Thokon (dial) Thoknaa Thukuni
84. Doraa *DOron *DOrnaa [?Doruni]
85. DhOlaa *Dholon *Dholnaa Dhuluni
86. Dhaakaa Dhaakon Dhaaknaa Dhaakni
87. Dhaalaa Dhaalon [?Dhaalnaa] [?Dhaaluni]
88. Dhokaa *Dhokon (dial) *Dhoknaa [?Dhuk(u)ni]
89. tOraa tOron *tOrnaa tOroni
90. titaa Ð Ð Ð
91. tolaa tolon *tolnaa tuluni
92. dOmaa dOmon *dOmnaa *domni
93. dOlaa dOlon *dOlnaa *dOluni
94. dOhaa dOhon *dOhnaa ?dohuni
95. daagaa Ð Ð Ð
96. duha/do(h) dohon *duhnaa ?du(h)ini
aa
97. deoaa den denaa *deni (daani)
98. dEkha dEkhon ?dEkhnaa *dekhni
99. dolaa dolon dolnaa duluni
100. dhOraa dhOron dhOrnaa [?dhoruni]
101. dhOSa *dhOSon/ *dhOSnaa *dhoSni
dhOS
102. dhaaoaa dhaabon *dhaaonaa ?dhaauni
103. dhoMkaa Ð Ð Ð
104. dhunaa Ð Ð Ð
105. dhoaa Ð Ð Ð
106. nORaa nORon *nORnaa ?noRune
107. noaa Ð Ð
108. naacaa naacon ?naacnaa naacuni/
naacune

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 42)
 The Possible and the Impossible in Bengali Word Formation 43

109. naaRaa *naaRon (dial) *naaRnaa ?naaRune

110. naamaa Ð Ð Ð
111. niRaano Ð Ð Ð
112. nebhaa Ð Ð Ð
113. newaa/ len (nEon lenaa *leni
(*lewaa) (dial))
114. pOcaa pOcon *pOcnaa *pocuni
115. pORaa pORon/ *pORnaa poRoni
pOThon (pORtaa) (ODBL658)
116. pOrokhaa *pOrokhOn *pOrokhnaa *pOrokhni
117. paaoaa paaon paaonaa *paauni
118. paakaa *paakon (dial) *paaknaa *paakuni
119. paaTaa paaTon paaTnaa paaToni
120. paataa paaton *paatnaa [?paatuni]
121. paadaa *paadon *paadnaa [?paaduni]
00
122. paaRaa paaRon paaRnaa *paaRoni
123. paaraa *paaron *paarnaa *paaraani
124. piMja @ Ð Ð Ð
peMjaa
125. piTaa @ peTon *piTnaa piTuni
peTaa (gORon-)
126. puchaa Ð Ð Ð
127. puraa purOn *purnaa *purni
128. peTaa peTon *piTnaa/ piTuni
*piTnaa
129. peSa peSon *pi/eSnaa [?piSni]
130. poRaa *poRon *PuRnaa *poRoni
131. poSaa poSon *pu/oSnaa [?puSniJ/
puSSi]
132. phOlaa phOlon *phOlnaa *pholuni
133. phaaMdaa -(phaaMd) Ð Ð
134. phaaMSaa -(phaaMS) Ð Ð
135. phaaTaa phaaTon/-ol *phaaTnaa *phaaTuni
136. phaaRaa Ð Ð Ð
137. pheraa -(pherat) Ð Ð
138. pho(M)Raa phoRon/ Ð *phuRni
phoMRon
139. phoMSaa Ð Ð Ð
140. phOTaa phoTon *phoTnaa *phuTuni/
aani
141. pholaa *pholon *pholnaa [?phuluni]
142. phElaa phElon phElnaa [?pheluni]

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 43)
 44 Udaya Narayana Singh and Suchita Singh

143. bOkaa bOkon bOknaa bokuni

144. bOkha Ð Ð Ð
145. bOma Ð Ð Ð
146. bOlaa bOlon *bOlnaa *bolni
147. bOSaa *bOSon (dial) *bOSnaa *boSuni
148. bOwaa/ bOhon *bOhnaa bouni
bOhaa
149. baaMkaa Ð Ð Ð
150. baaMcaa baaMcon *baaMcnaa *baaMcuni
151. baaTaa *baaTon baaTnaa baaTni
152. baaMTaa Ð Ð Ð
153. baaMdhaa baaMdhon baaMdhnaa baaMdhuni
154. baachaa Ð Ð [?baachuni]
155. baajaa baajon baajnaa *baajuni
156. baaoaa/ baahon ?Ibaahnaa baauni (e.g.
baahaa (baaynaa) aauni baauni)
157. baaRaa baaRon *baaRnaa ?baaRni
158. binaa *binon *binna binuni
159. biMdhaa/ Ð Ð Ð
beMdhaa
160. boMjaa *boMjon *boMjnaa ?buMjuni
161. bojhaa *bojhon *bujhnaa ?bujhni
162. bonaa bunon *bunnaa ?bununi
(ˆ bunoT )
163. bEcaa *bEcon *bEcnaa becuni
164. bEla bElon bElnaa beluni
165. bhOraa bhOron [?bhOrnaa] [?bhoruni]
166. bhaaMjaa *bhaaMjon bhaaMjnaa [?bhaaMjuni]
167. bhaagaa Ð Ð Ð
168. bhaangaa bhaangon bhaangnaa bhaangni
169. bhaabaa bhaabon bhaabnaa *bhaabuni
170. bhaaSaa *bhaaSon *bhaaSnaa *bhaaSwe
(bhaaSiye)
171. bhiRaa/ bhiRon *bhiRnaa *bhiRuni
bheRaa
172. bhogaa Ð Ð Ð
173. bholaa [?bhulOn] *bhulnaa [?bhulun]
174. bhejaa *bhejon *bhijnaa [?bhijuni]
175. mOraa mOron *mOrnaa *moruni
176. mOlaa mOlon *mOlnaa [?moluni]
177. mOwaa *mOwon *mOwnaa mount
(ODBL658)

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 44)
 The Possible and the Impossible in Bengali Word Formation 45

178. maakhaa maakhon maakhnaa *maakh(o)ni

179. maagaa maagon maagnaa maagni
180. maajaa maajon *maajnaa *maajuni
181. maaRaa *maaRon *maaRnaa *maaRuni
182. maataa maaton *maatnaa ?maatuni
183. maanaa *maanon *maannaa *manuni
184. maapaa *(maap) Ð Ð
185. maaraa maaron *maarnaa *maar(u)ni
186. miTaa/ Ð Ð Ð
meTaa
187. milaalmelaa milOn *milnaa miloni
188. meSaa Ð Ð Ð
189. muRaa/ *moRon *muRnaa muRaani
moRaa
190. mutaa/motaa moton *mutnaa [?mutiini]
191. raaMdhaa raaMdhon raannaa raaMdhuni
192. raakhaa raakhon [?raakhnaa] [?raakhoni]
193. rocaa Ð Ð Ð
194. rudkaa/ rodhon *rodhnaa ?rodhuni
rodhaa
195. roaa Ð Ð Ð
lOwaa (See
newaa
earlier)
196. lORaa *lORon *lORnaa [?loRuni]
197. laagaa laagon laagnaa *laagni/logni
198. lekhaa lekhOn *lekhnaa lekhoni
199. luTaa-loTaa Ð Ð Ð
200. lepaa lepon *lepnaa *lepuni
201. lekhaa lekhOn [?likhnaa] lekhoni
202. SOraa *SOron Ð Ð
(sOraa)
203. SOhaa SOhon *SOhnaa [?SOhoni]
204. SaaMTaa Ð Ð Ð
205. Saajaa saajon *saajnaa saajuni
206. Saadhaa Saadhon *Saadhnaa [?Saadhuni]
207. Saanaa Ð Ð Ð
208. Saaraa Ð Ð Ð
209. SiMca- SincOn *SiMcnaa *SiMcuni
SeMcaa
210. Sekhaa -(SikkhOn) Ð Ð
211. Secaa Ð Ð Ð

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 45)
 46 Udaya Narayana Singh and Suchita Singh

212. SEMkaa Ð Ð Ð
213. SoMkaa Ð Ð Ð
214. Sonaa shunon *Sunnaa Sunaani
215. hOwaa *hOon (dial) *hOonaa *houni
216. hOThaa Ð Ð Ð
217. haaMkaa *haaMkan ?haaMkna [?haaMkni]
(haaMk/
haaMkaa)
218. haaMcaa Ð Ð Ð
219. haaSaa Ð Ð [?haaSni, esp.
in slang]

6. Observations
If we take a closer look at the table presented above, we notice that there
are indeed a large number of basic verbs that do not participate in this par-
ticular word form generation in Standard Chalit Bengali (SCB). These in-
clude about 116 out of the 219, i.e. 52.96% of the basic verbs already men-
tioned above. These stems include the following (where we have deleted the
in®nitive marking, i.e. -aa):

Level O

2. aaMc 4. aakul 5. *aach

6. aan 7. aaS 8. ucch(a)r
9. ub 10. up(a)j 12. op(a)R/up(a)R
18. kaac 24. ken 29. khoMj
35. goad 36. gaal 39. gol
41. gher 43. cOT 47. caaMch
48. caakh 52. cuk 53. cum
54. cen 55. cep 58. chOR
65. chaap 66. chenR 70. jOm
73. jaa 76. joT 84. DOr
88. Dhok 90. tit 95. daag
102. dhaa 107. No 109. naaR
110. naam 111. niR 112. nebh
116. pOrokh 118. paak 121. paad
123. paar 124. piMj/peMj 126. puch
128. peT 129. peS 130. poR
131. poS 132. phOl 133. phaaMd
134. phaaMS 135. phaaT 136. phaaR
137. pher 138. pho(M)R 139. phoMS

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 46)
 The Possible and the Impossible in Bengali Word Formation 47

140. phOT 141. phol 144. bOkh

145. bOn 146. bOl 147. bOS
149. baaMk 150. baaMc 152. baaMT
154. baach 157. baaR 159. biMdh/beMdh
160. boMj 161. bojh 162. ban 1
165. bhOr 166. bhaaMj 167. bhaag
170. bhaaS 171. bhiR/bheR 172. bhog
173. bhol 174. bhej 175. mOr
177. mOw 178. maakh 180. maaj
181. maaR 182. moat 183. moan
184. maap 185. maar 186. miT/meT
188. meS 190. mut/mot 192. raakh
193. roc 194. rudh/rodh 195. ro
196. lOR 199. luT/loT 200. lep
201. lekh 202. SOr 203. SOh
204. SaaMT 206. Saadh 208. Saar
209. SiMc/SeMc 210. Sekh 211. Sec
212. SEMk 213. SoMk 214. Son
215. hOw 216. hOTh 217. haaMk
218. haaMc 219. haaS

As these stem-endings or their meaning/interpretation would show, there

is no possibility of grouping them either in terms of semantic or morpho-
phonological categories, which could tell us why they behave like the -no
in®nitives (See appendix) that do not take -On, etc.
This leads us to believe that in the matter of spread of these forms, a per-
colation scale of 7-points could be set up to see the extent of their spread in
these formations. Whereas 53% of the verbs above stand at the bottom of
the percolation scale, only 9% or 19 verbs in all accept all these su½xes.
These 19 verbs are:

Level 7

oR oRon oRnaa uRni @ oRoni

kaaMd kaaMdon kaannaa kaaMduni
KuT koTon kuTnaa kuTni/kuRuni
khol kholon kholnaa khuluni
gaa gaahon gaaonaa gaauni
ghOS ghOSon *ghOSnaa ghiSni
chaaMd chaaMdon chaaMdnaa cheni/*chaaMdni
ThOk Thokon (dial) Thoknaa Thukuni
Dhaak Dhaakon Dhaaknaa Dhaakni

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 47)
 48 Udaya Narayana Singh and Suchita Singh

dol dolon dolnaa duluni

paaT paaTon paaTnaa paaToni
bOk bOkon bOknaa bokuni
baaMdh baaMdhon baaMdhnaa baaMdhuni
baa/baah baahon ?baahnaa baauni
bEl bElon bElnaa beluni
bhaang bhaangon bhaangnaa bhaangni
maag maagon maagnaa maagni
raaMdh raaMdhon raannaa raaMdhuni
laag laagon laagnaa *laagni/logni

Once again, we can apparently tell nothing by looking at the endings or

the syllable structure, etc. Interestingly, however, there are a large number
of verbs, 35 out of 219, i.e. 16%, which at least accept the -On marking, but
have no corresponding forms under the other two sets. These are the fol-
lowing:

Level 1

1 aaMkaa 11 oThaa 15 kOhaa/kOwaa

20 kaaRaa 21 kuMthaa 23 kuhOraa
25 aaKoMdaa 30 khodaa 32 gOlaa
34 gaaRaa 38 gelaa 44 cORaa
45 cOlaa 50 caapaa 64 chaaRaa
68 cholaa 72 jaagaa 75 jojhaa
81 TOla 87 Dhaalaa 92 dOmaa
93 dOlaa 94 dOhaa 96 duha/do(h)aa
98 dEkha 101 dhOSa 103 dhoMkaa
104 dhunaa 105 dhoaa 106 nORaa
108 naacaa 114 pOcaa 120 paataa
122 paaRaa 127 puraa

Although a number of these are tadbhava forms with instances of classi-

cal borrowing of their corresponding Sanskritic nominal or -On-forms, such
as onkon, kuhorOn, gOlon, jaagorOn, duhon, nOrton, pOcon or purOn, this
does not explain many other verbs which are not historically traceable
to any Sanskritic root with similar nominal forms. While looking for the
reasons, and also for the explanation behind recent emergence of many of
these forms, we found that -On is a very productive su½x for nominaliza-
tion in most dialects spoken in the erstwhile East Bengal, or the present
Bangladesh. If we were to write a grammar of word formation of the stan-
dard eastern spoken dialect of Dhaka-Mymensingh, a large number of

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 48)
 The Possible and the Impossible in Bengali Word Formation 49

the 54% non-participating verbs will also generate corresponding nominal

forms. There will be very few verb forms left in the ®rst block of 116 verbs
then. We could now probably make a guess as to why these forms have af-
fected so many verbs in the above group of 35 verbs. There has been a large
exodus of people from the east to the locus in and around Calcutta in the
late forties, and many features of Bengali phonology show changes after
this period of time, which is clear if we compare Chatterji's work on pho-
netics or his ODBL with Ferguson and Chowdhury's (1960) stand on Ben-
gali phonology in the early ®fties, and then bring them into contrast with
the recent studies by Sarkar (1976) and Paul (1985) or Dan (1998). There
has to be a fall out in the area of morphology, and we guess this has been
one such area.
This brings us to the third point, namely that although the number 35 out
of 219, or 16%, looks small, it has to be viewed in the context of there being
more verbsÐat least more which need to be placed still higher on the per-
colation scale. These include the following groups which have to be placed
higher than the level 1 verbs (although between levels 2 and 3, ordering is
not so important):

Level 2 (acceptance of the su½xes -On and -naa)

26 khaaoaa khaaon khaanaa *khaauni

28 khElaa khElon khElnaa [?kheluni]
33 *gOhaa gOhon gOhnaa/gOynaa *gOhni
51 cetaa cetOn cetnaa *cet(u)ni
59 chOlaa chOlon chOl(o)naa *chOluni
74 jaacaa jaacon jaacnaa [?jaacune]
77 jhOra jhOron jhOrnaa *jhor(u)ni
97 deoaa den denaa *deni (daani)
100 dhOraa dhOron dhOrnaa [?dhoruni]
113 newaa/(*lewaa) len (nEon (dial)) lenaa *leni
117 paaoaa paaon paaonaa *paauni
142 phElaa phElon phElnaa [?pheluni]
155 baajaa baajon baajnaa *baajuni
169 bhaabaa bhaabon bhaabnaa *bhaabuni

Level 3 (acceptance of -On and -uni forms only)

3 aaMTaa aaMTon *aaMTnaa aaMTuni

14 olaa olon *olnaa uluni
17 kaaMpaa kaaMpon *kaaMpnaa kaaMpuni

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 49)
 50 Udaya Narayana Singh and Suchita Singh

42 ghoraa ghoron *ghornaa ghurni/ghumni

46 caaoaa caahon *caahnaa caahoni/caauni
49 caaToa caaTon *caaTwa caaTni
51 ciraa ceron *cirnaa ciruni
56 coSaa coSon *coSnaa cuSni/cuSi
60 chaaoaa chaaon *chaaonaa chaauni
62 chaaMTaa chaaMTon *chaaMTnaa chaaMTuni
67 chuTaa choTon *chuTnaa chuTni/chuTki
71 jOlaa jOlon *jOlnaa joluni
78 jhaaRaa jhaaRon *jhaaRnaa jhaaRuni
79 jhoMtaa jhoMTon *jhoMTnaa ?jhuMT(n)i
80 jholaa jholon/jhulOn *jholnaa jhuluni
82 Tepa Tepon *Tepnaa Tipuni
89 tOraa tOron *tOrnaa tOroni
91 tolaa tolon *tolnaa tuluni
115 pORaa pORon/pOThon *pORnaa poRoni
(ODBL 658)
125 piTaa/peTaa peTon (gORon-) *piTnaa piTuni
148 bOwaa/bOhaa bOhon *bOhnaa bouni
187 milaa/melaa milOn *milnaa miloni
198 lekhaa lekhOn *lekhnaa lekhoni
205 Saajaa saajon *saajnaa saajuni
207 Saanaa Ð Ð Ð

If we add the 14 level 2 verbs above and the 25 level 3 verbs to the initial
35, we see that gradually these forms are making inroads into all kinds of
verbs, and consequently the Bengali lexicon is enriched more and more.
Thus approximately 18% of the basic verbs have been drifting towards the
highest level over the years.
There are two more layers of forms, assigned to levels 4 and 5 as shown
below:

Level 4 (verbs with only -(u)ni forms):

27 khaaTaa *khaaTon (dial) *khaaTnaa khaaTuni

69 chEncaa *cEMcaaon *CEMcnaa cEMcaani
85 DhOlaa *Dholon *Dholnaa Dhuluni
158 binaa *binon *binna binuni
163 bEcaa *bEcon *bEcnaa becuni
176 mOlaa mOlon *mOlnaa [?moluni]
189 muRaa/moRaa *moRon *muRnaa muRaani

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 50)
 The Possible and the Impossible in Bengali Word Formation 51

Level 5 (verbs where only -naa is productive)

19 kaaTaa *kaaTon kaaTnaa [?kaaTuni]

We would expect that all forms generated by adding the other two suf-
®xes would also have a corresponding -On form in each case. But this is
further seen in the problem of the level 6 forms given below, which have
both -naa and -(u)ni forms, but no trace of -On anywhere in SCB:

Level 6 (verbs with both -naa and -(u)ni forms)

61 chaaMkaa @ chaanaa *chaaMkon chaaMknaa chaaMkni

151 baaTaa *baaTon baaTnaa baaTni

The verbs above, although only 10 in number, call for an explanation

which is not readily available. It is likely that either the forms do exist in
the speech of some SCB speakers although not in the ones who have been
our informants, or that there is a counter force blocking the spread of -On
to SCB verb forms because of some sociological constraints. These are to
be taken only as hints rather than conclusive remarks, because what we
demonstrated here was only an interesting way of seeing a morphological
change in progress.

References
Arono¨, Mark (1976). Word formation in generative grammar. Cambridge: Massachusetts
Institute of Technology Press.
Ð (1978). The relevance of productivity in a synchronic description of word formation. J.
Fisiok (ed.), Historical morphology. The Hague: Mouton.
Chatterji, Sunit Kumar (1926). The Origin and Development of the Bengali Language, vol. II.
Calcutta: Calcutta University Press.
Dan, Mina (1998). ``Bangla verb morphology: The actual derivation.'' Indian Linguistics, 59(1±
4): 43±79.
Dowty, David R. (1979). Word meaning and Montague grammar. Dordrecht: Reidel.
Dressler, Wolfgang (1982). On a polycentristic theory of word formation. Proceedings of 12th
International Congress of Linguistics.
Fabb, Nigel A. (1984). Syntactic a½xation. Doctoral dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology.
Ferguson, C.A. and Munier Choudhury (1960). ``The Phonemes of Bengali.'' Language 36:
22±59.
Kiparsky, Paul (1982). Lexical morphology and phonology. I. S. Yang, ed. Linguistics in the
morning calm. Seoul: Hanshin.
Mohanan, Karuvannur P. (1982). Lexical phonology. Doctoral dissertation, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology.
Paul, Jayashree (1985). A Concrete Approach to Bengali Phonology. Unpublished Ph.D. Dis-
sertation, Kanpur: Indian Institute of Technology.

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 51)
 52 Udaya Narayana Singh and Suchita Singh

Samsad Bengali Dictionary (1991 edition). Calcutta: Sahitya Samsad.

Sarkar, Pabitra (1976). ``The Bengali Verb.'' International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics,
5(2): 274±297.
Singh, Udaya N. and S. Basu (1987). Study of word formation processes in Indian languages:
some directions in the analysis of creativity. Paper presented at the Seminar cum Work-
shop on Common Morphological Features in Indian Languages (March 9±13, 1987), My-
sore. To appear in International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics.

Appendix
The excluded -no in®nitives
aaMTaano aaTkaano Aaglaano
aagaano aachRaano uMcaano
uKhRaano uchlaano uSkaano
uSkhuSaano utraano/utrono oRaano
kOclaano kOckOcaano kaatraano
kaamRaano koMkRaano kucono
kaaMcaano kElaano kuono
kodlaano khOtaano khaaMkhraano
olaano Eraano khaaRaano
khaapaano haablaano khiMcono
khoMcaano khuMTaano khoaano
khEpaano gOjraano gORaano
gonaano guMRono guchaano/guchono
guTaano gumraano gongonaano
ghOngaano ghaaMTaano ghaabRaano
ghaamaano ghucaano ghEMgaano
ghumaano ghuraano gholaano
cokcOkaano cOTkaano cOTaano
cOTcOTaano cORaano cORbORaano
cOnmOnaano cOraano cOlkaano
cOlaano caagaano caapRaano
caapaano caabkaano caaraano
caalaano cibaano/cibono cillano
cunaano cuTaano cupSaano
cumRaano culkaano Cetaano
cEpTaano cElaano CoTaano
connano copaano chOTphOTaano
chORaano chaadaano choRaano
chaaMTaano choMkchoMkaano jhOlkano
jhaalaano jhimaano/jhimono TOnTOnaano
Topkano TaMpano TaTano

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 52)
 The Possible and the Impossible in Bengali Word Formation 53

Tikano/Tikono Topano Thikrano

Thokrano ThOkano DhuSaano
Taakaano taapaano taaSaano
TuRaano toaano daaMRaano
Daapaano daabRaano daabaano
DouRaano dhOmkaano dhEstano
ghumRaano paanaano paalaano
pichlaano pichono piTpiTaano
pEMcano pEMdano pohaano
pouMchaano/pouMchono pEnpEnaano phOrphOraano
phOSkaano phaaMpaano phoMpaano
phuSlaano phukraano phuTaano
phuraano phEnaano phoMSphoMsaano
baakhaano baanaano balSaano
baahuRaano bikaano/bikono bigRaano
bichaano binaano biaano
biiaano biSaano buRaano/buRono
bERaano betaano bhORkaano
bhaaMRaano bhEpSaano bhijaano
bhEngaano bhEbRaano mOckaano
mOTkaano miaano mukhaano
mucRaano muSRaano melaano
moTaano rORaano raangaano
rOTaa rOSaano raaMdhaa
raangaano lOTkaano lOtaano
lOpTaano/lEpTaano laaphaano lukaano/lukono
LEngcaano LElaano SaaSaano
Sekhaano Sijhaano SiMTkaano
Sudhraano SOmjhaano SOraano
SaaMtraano SaaMtlaano SaapTaano
SaabRaano hoRkaano hORbORaano
haaMkRaano haaTkaano haaMpaano
haatRaano haataano haaraano
hiNcRaano/hENcaRano

(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 53)
(V7(M) 10/8/04 09:25) WDG/G J-1146 Yearbook, 2004 PMU:(CKN)6/8/2004 Times_M (0).3.04.05 (148225mm) pp. 37±54 Ch02_P (p. 54)