Rangpurispeaking

Rangpurispeaking refers to the use and linguistic behavior of Rangpuri-speaking communities. Rangpuri, also called Rangpuriya, is an Eastern Indo-Arian language spoken primarily in the Rangpur region of northern Bangladesh and by communities across the border in India, as well as in diaspora communities. The term Rangpurispeaking can denote language, dialectal varieties, and social identity associated with speakers of Rangpuri.

Rangpurispeaking is typically categorized within the Bengali–Assamese branch of the Indo-Arian family. It comprises several regional varieties, often described as Northern Rangpuri and Southern Rangpuri, with overlapping intelligibility and distinctive vocabularies, phonology, and syntax.

Geographically, Rangpuri-speaking populations are concentrated in the Rangpur Division, including districts such as Rangpur, Dinajpur, Gaibandha, and Kurigram. Smaller communities exist in neighboring districts and in Indian states including West Bengal, Bihar, and Assam, with additional speakers in the global diaspora.

Sociolinguistically, Rangpurispeaking communities commonly exhibit bilingualism or multilingualism, using Bengali or Assamese in education, media, and public life while maintaining Rangpuri in the home and community domains. Language contact has influenced lexicon, pronunciation, and code-switching patterns. Language vitality varies by area; some varieties remain robust through intergenerational transmission, while others face language shift.

In terms of scripts and literature, Rangpuri is typically written in the Bengali script, with limited standardized orthographies and increasing documentation through grammars, dictionaries, oral literature, and local publications. Education and official recognition for Rangpuri vary by country and region.