Title of the Paper: Change of Meaning of Words in Murshidabad Dialects 

 Geographical Location of the Dialect :

     Murshidabad, a district of West Bengal is situated in the middle of the State. The district has historical and geographical importance as it was the capital of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. The district is surrounded by Rajsahi of Bangladesh in the East, Birbhuma and Santhal Pargana of Jharkband State in the North-West, Maldah in the North and Bardhaman and Nadia in the South. The western part of the Bhagirathi river is called 'Rarh'. The Dialect f Murshidabad is a dialect under 'Rarhi', a major dialect of bengali language.

     Examples of change of meaning and their causes: Except some common examples of change of meaning of words like: 

'lataa- creaper                                      instead of 'Saap' -         snake -

                                                            (due to similarity)

baaranta -         increasing                     "           "           naai                  no

bere jaaoya -    increasing                     "           "           bhenge jaaoyaa (broken)

maaerdayaa -   kindness of mother        "           "           basanta -small pox

haathjoraa  -     handfully occupied        "           "           naai -not, unable

haat Taanaa Taani -dugging                   "           "           abhaab -want

haatpaabaandha- tied hand and leg        "           "           akkham -unable

haatsaaphaai - hand cleaning                 "           "           hasta poTutaa- sleight of hand, skill of theft

haate paraa - fall in hand                       "           "           adhinataa- dependent

haatdharaa - shake hands                      "           "           boshibhuta -obedient

haat Taan - pulling hands                       "           "           kripan - miser

haatnaaraa- waving hands                     "           "           t:iraskaar- to rebuke

      First four examples of change of meaning are due to psychological reasons or for superstition and for fear of 'snake' and goddess shitala (in case of 'mayer daya'). All other examples are of Euphemism.

 Elevation of meaning :

Word -                                     Original Meaning                      -Present Meaning

darad( <P .dard)                      -pain                                        -maayaa (affection)

aparuup                                    -ugly                                         -khub Sunar (most beautiful)    

jog                                           -combination                            -dhyaan (meditation)

saahas                                      -theft, decoity                           -saahas (brave)  

From the above examples we see how meaning change into opposite direction, 'darad'à Painà result of the painà sympathyà affection, 'aparup' was probably separated in 'apa'(prothesis) most and 'rup' - beautiful à most  beautiful. 'Jog' was combination of two particles or numbers àcombination of body and mind àconcentrationà meditation. Dacoits and thieves are brave no doubt as they are doing such work which other or ordinary people cannot do à only a few people can doà so they are brave.  

Degeneration of Meaning :

 Word                                                   Original Meaning                      Present Meaning

kholiphaa          spiritual chief of muslim community dorji, seyanaa (a tailor, very clever)

bujrok (p bujurg) -                                a saint                                       prataarak (imposter)

khappor(<kharpar)                               skull, beggar's bowl                  phnaad(trap)

netaa                                                    leader                                       nyataa (degraded leader)

      Probably 'Kholiphas' were very good weaver à tailor and they probably cheated illiterate people in the name of religion by taking gifts in many ways à cheater. bujruks were wise à imparted knowledgeà teaching false knowledge. khappar à tools of begging à impressed with skull -khappar à people believed and trapped. 'netaa' to 'nyaataa' due to the political leaders incapability and false promise. From these examples we can realise how people re-act. Due to mental dissatisfaction and hatred 'netaa' becomes 'nyaataa' (piece of cloth).

 Some other Examples of De-generation of Meaning :

 Word                                                   Original Meaning                      Present Meaning

khun(A)                                                blood                                       murder

bhadralok                                             gentleman                                 non-protesting

personà novoiceà coward

chaasaa                                                ploughman un-civilised, who does not know manner

gneyo(<graammo)                                village people                            un-civilesed(gneyo chaasa)

krishnaàkesto                                     Lord Krishna clever lover (example-kolir kesto)

gaadhaa                                                Ass      foolish-(gaadhaa chhele - foolish boy)

 (like that 'goru', 'bhneraa' when used before as adjective -it means foolish)

dhyaamon, dhyamnaa               non-venom snake         loose character man - 'dhemni'- kept.

aashnaai(P)                                           friendship                                  illicit relation (love)