Chapter 1: Bangla Script

Bangla or Bengali (anglicized name) is an Indo-Aryan language derived from Sanskrit. Bangla language has a written history since 900 C.E. Bangla script, like many modern Indian languages, developed through some stages from “Bramhi”, the ancient Indian script. Bangla language is written left-to-right, top-to-bottom of a page, like the Roman script.

Bangla alphabet consists of total fifty one letters or “varnas”. There are eleven vowel letters or “swara-varnas” and thirty nine consonant letters or “vyanjanvarna”. The vowels come first in the alphabet order. The consonants are arranged based on place of articulation. The basic written unit is a syllable which consists of a consonant and a vowel. Each consonant, unless otherwise modified, has an inherent vowel sound.