Nativization Conventions

The following Nativization conventions are automatically applied when Bengali is the Target Script.

व /va/ is replaced by /ba/. (e.g) शिव - শিব
य /ya/ is converted to য /YA/ & য় /YYA/ based on native Bengali conventions (see below)
pure consonant /t/ त् is changed into Khanda Ta based on its position. (e.g) भगवत् - ভগবত্‍

Preserve Source

The above nativization conventions are not applied, and /va/ is preserved in the Target Script using the Assamese /va/ ৱ

Features of Bengali Script

Bengali YA & YYA

Similar to Oriya, Bengali has two letters to represent the pan-Indic /ya/, namely য YA & য় YYA. There are certain conventions that dictate their usage, while transliterating the Sanskrit /ya/.

The following Conventions are usually applied:

YA when /ya/ occurs word initial.
YA when /ya/ appear as post-consonantal conjunct e.g hya etc.
YYA in all other cases

The converter automatically uses /YA/ & /YYA/ based on context.

Assamese VA

Bengali doesn't use /va/. Usually ব /ba/ is used to represent /va/ as is the case in all Eastern Scripts. However, in Assamese (which uses Begali Script) ৱ U+09F1 is used to represents /va/.

Khanda Ta

Similar to the Malayalam Chillus, Bengali has an Atomic Character called "Khanda Ta" ৎ that represents the pure consonant /ta/. By default, word final /t/ would become a Khanda Ta. Apart from /tra/, /ttha/, /tya/, /tba/, /tla/, the other conjuncts with pre-consonantal /ta/ would be rendered with Khanda Ta only. As in YYA, in strict sense, Khanda Ta as a later innovation in Bengali Script, hence will not be found in older manuscripts. Unlike Chillu Characters, the Khanda Ta doesn't carry any semantic meaning, being just a glyph variant for vowelless /ta/ ত.

Initially in Unicode, it was represented using the Unicode control character - Zero Width Joiner (ZWJ) as in <ta, Virama (Hasanta), ZWJ>. Later, It was allocated a separate code point in the Bengali code block.

Bengali Transcription

Bengali is not pronounced strictly as it is written. Even though Sanskrit spellings are retained, the pronunciation is not retained. The inherent vowel also varies depending upon the context. For detailed info see : Ishida's Bengali Script Notes

Bengali Font

Display Issues with Khanda Ta

The Converted use the Code point U+09CE ৎ to display Khanda Ta. It was added to unicode at a later date. The XP version of Vrinda doesn't have support for this Character. It is supported in Vista/7. If in XP, you need a suitable font which supports this character.

Sample Sanskrit Text

अनिरोधम् अनुत्पादम् अनुच्छेदम् अशाश्वतम् ।

अनेकार्थम् अनानार्थम् अनागमम् अनिर्गमम् ॥

यः प्रतीत्यसमुत्पादं प्रपञ्चोपशमं शिवम् ।

देशयामास संबुद्धस्तं वन्दे वदतां वरम् ॥

Default Conversion

অনিরোধম্ অনুৎপাদম্ অনুচ্ছেদম্ অশাশ্বতম্|

অনেকার্থম্ অনানার্থম্ অনাগমম্ অনির্গমম্ ||

যঃ প্রতীত্যসমুৎপাদং প্রপঞ্চোপশমং শিবম্ |

দেশয়ামাস সংবুদ্ধস্তং বন্দে বদতাং বরম্ ||

Source Preserved

অনিরোধম্ অনুৎপাদম্ অনুচ্ছেদম্ অশাশ্ৱতম্ |

অনেকার্থম্ অনানার্থম্ অনাগমম্ অনির্গমম্ ||

যঃ প্রতীত্যসমুৎপাদং প্রপঞ্চোপশমং শিৱম্ |

দেশযামাস সংবুদ্ধস্তং ৱন্দে ৱদতাং ৱরম্ ||

Assamese

Assamese Script is same as the Bengali script except for the character /ra/ and /va/. Assamese uses U+09F0 ৰ for ra. All conventions intended for Bengali Script is applicable for the Assamese variant too.

অনিৰোধম্ অনুৎপাদম্ অনুচ্ছেদম্ অশাশ্ৱতম্ |

অনেকাৰ্থম্ অনানাৰ্থম্ অনাগমম্ অনিৰ্গমম্ ||

যঃ প্ৰতীত্যসমুৎপাদং প্ৰপঞ্চোপশমং শিৱম্ |

দেশয়ামাস সংবুদ্ধস্তং ৱন্দে ৱদতাং ৱৰম্ ||