Bhojpuri Writing scripts

Writing scripts

Bhojpuri over the course of time has been written in various scripts by various people. Bhojpuri until late 19th century was commonly written in Kaithi script as well as Nasta'liq (Persian) script.

Mention of Bhojpuri literature cannot be complete without Bhikhari Thakur and his immemorial Bidesia. However, it is unforunate that no conscious attempt is being made to preserve his literature which is mainly in various folklores.

Kaithi

Kaithi script computer written

Kaithi script was used for administrative purposes in the Mughal era for writing Bhojpuri, Maithili, Bangla, Urdu, Magahi and Hindi from at least 16th century upto the first decade of 20th century. Government gazetteers report that Kaithi was used in a few districts of Bihar through the1960s.It is possible that Kaithi is still used today in very limited capacity in these districts and in rural areas of north India. The significance of Kaithi grew when the British governments of the Bengal Presidency (of which Bihar and some southern districts of Nepal was territory) and the NorthWestern Provinces & Oudh (hereafter, NWP&O) selected the script for use in administration and education. The first impetus of growth was the standardization of written Kaithi in 1875 by the government of NWP&O for the purpose of adapting the script for use in formal education. The second was the selection of Kaithi by the government of Bihar as the official script of the courts and administrative offices of the Bihar districts in1880.Thereafter; Kaithi replaced the Persian script as the writing system of record in the judicial courts of Bihar. Additionally, on account of the rate of literacy in Kaithi, the governments of Bihar and NWP&O advocated Kaithi as the medium of written instruction in their primary schools.

Bhojpuri story written in Kaithi script , written by Babu Rama Smaran Lal in 1898

Nasta'liq (Persian)

Before 1880 all the administrative works in Bihar was done in this Persian script and possibly all the educated Muslims in the Bhojpuri speaking region wrote unofficial works in Nasta'liq script.

a letter written to the civil court in Patna in Nasta'liq script in 1825

Devanagiri

By 1894, official works were carried out in both Kaithi and Devanagiri in Bihar which probably started giving way to replacement of Kaithi completely by Devanagiri. At present almost all the Bhojpuri works are done in Devanagiri even in the overseas islands where Bhojpuri is spoken.

Comparison of Dialects of Bhojpuri

Introduction to usage and features

Many speakers of North Indian languages find the unique, distinct features of Bhojpuri humorous sounding. In Bollywoodfilms, all the languages spoken in the villages of UP, Bihar, South Nepal, and North Jharkhand are often collectively referred to asBhojpuri. Bhojpuri represents all the accents, tones, behaviours, village stories, idioms of the languages such as Awadhi, Braj bhasha, Kortha, Nagpuria, Magahi, and Maithili. Some of the features are discussed below:

Spoken trends

• Addition of “Waa” or “eeya” to Nouns and sometimes Verbs

For male Nouns:

In Hindi with Bhojpuri style – “ शाहरुखवा कहा कि ये मेरा कुत्ता नही है ”

In true Bhojpuri language - “ शाहरुखवा कहलख/कहलस कि ई हमार कुकुर ना ह”

English translation – Shahrukh said that he is not my dog.

English in Bhojpuri style – Shahrukhwa said that he is not my dog.

For female Nouns:

In Hindi with Bhojpuri style – “ रिमिया रिया सेनवा के बहन है ”

In true Bhojpuri language - “ रिमिया रिया सेनवा के बहिन बिया ”

English translation – Rimi is the sister of Riya sen

English in Bhojpuri style – Rimia is the sister of Riya senwa.

In Hindi with Bhojpuri style – “ लठीया चला के तुम्हारा कपार फोर देंगे

” In true Bhojpuri language - “लठीया चला के तोहार/तोहर कपारवे फोर देम ”

English translation – (I'll) throw the baton and crack your skull

English in Bhojpuri style – (I'll) throw the batowa and crack your skullwa.

Notice that female names ending in “ee ” gets “eeya” as in “ रिमि becomes रिमिया ” and "लाठी" becomes "लठिया" similarly female names ending in “uu” gets “uaa” for example :

In Hindi with Bhojpuri style – “खुश्बुआ का बाप मर गया है ”

In true Bhojpuri language - “खुश्बुआ के बाप मू गईल बा / खुश्बुआ के बाबू मू गैईल बाना ”

English translation – Khusbu’s dad has died

English in Bhojpuri style – Khusbuaa’s dad has died

Apart from these all other females names and other nouns get "waa" in their ends.

• Addition of "eeye" or "ey" in adverbs, adjectives and pronouns
  

In Hindi with Bhojpuri style – हम बहुत नजदिके से आ रहें है

In true Bhojpuri language – हम बहुत नजदिके/नीयरे/नजीके से आवतानी/ आ रहल बानी.

English translation – I am coming from very near place

English in Bhojpuri style – I am coming from very nearey place.

Pronunciation of words

Bhojpuri has very distinct way of pronouncing, apparent to most north Indians would be aware of it. For example: मैं कहता हूँ is actually pronounced in Hindi as मै कैहता हूँ whereas in Bhojpuri it would be मैं कःहःता हूँ. The word for 'plenty' in Bhojpuri and Hindi is written as बहुत while Hindi pronounces it बहौत Bhojpuri retains बहुत even while pronouncing. Whereas Hindi has kya hal hai in Bhojpuri the same phrase is pronounced ka hal ba.

Trend of word formation

Though to speakers of Hindi, some Bhojpuri words may appear "mispronounced", they simply result from the divergent evolutions of the related languages. For example:

• अमरुद is Hindi word for Guava, in Bhojpuri it is अमदुर
• साइकिल is Hindi word (adapted from English) for cycle, in Bhojpuri many say साइलकि
• रक्सौल is a town in Champaran district of Bihar, many Bhojpuria people pronounce रस्कौल
• पहुँचना is a Hindi word for to reach, in Bhojpuria people say चहुँपना

Comparison of pronouns in Hindi dialects

खड़ी बोली	भोजपुरी	अवधी	मैथिली	मगही
हम	हम	हम	हम	हम
तू	तू	तू	तू	तू
तुम	तू	तू	तू	तू

Common words

Weekdays

English	Bhojpuri	भोजपुरी
Sunday	Eitwaar	एतवार
Monday	Somaar	सोमार
Tuesday	Mungar	मंगर
Wednesday	Budhh	बुध
Thursday	Bifey	बिफे
Friday	Sook / Juma	सूक / जुमा
Saturday	Sunicher	सनिचर

Numericals

In Bhojpuri, ½ or half is called "aadha" ( आधा ) and when ½ or half is used with numbers higher than 2 then "saadhe" ( साढ़े ) is added before the whole number.

For example: 7.5 would be "saadhe saat"( साढ़े सात ).

Similarly, ¼ or quarter is called "sawaa"( सवा ) and when a number is ¼ or quarter less than a whole number then "pauney" ( पौने ) is added before the ceiling whole number.

For example: 7.25 would be "sawaa saat" ( सवा सात ) and 7.75 would be called "pauney aath" ( पौने आठ ).

There are other special names for 1.5 , 2.5 , 6 , and 12. They are called – "Dedh"( डेढ़ ), "Adhaai"( अढ़ाई ), "Aadha Darzan"( आधा दर्ज़न ) and "Darzan"( दर्ज़न ) respectively.

For currencies Bhojpuri uses the terms "Takiaa" ( टका ) , "Aanaa" ( आना ), "Kaudi" ( कौडी ), or "Paiisa" ( पईसा ) or "Ropeya / Rupaiya"( रोपेया / रुपईया ). It must be remembered that pronunciation of these words vary greatly while using in various circumstances.

English	Bhojpuri	भोजपुरी
Zero, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten	Sona, Ek, Du, Teen, Chaar, Paanch, Chau, Saat, Aath, Nau, Dus	सुन्ना, एक, दु, तीन, चार, पाँच, छौ, सात, आठ, नौ, दस
One/Two/Five/Ten/20/50/100 Rupee Notes	Ek/Du/Paanch/Dus/Bees/Pachaas/Sai takia (only for currency paper)	एक/दु/पाँच/दस/बीस/पचास/सय टकिया
500/ 1000 or higher denomination Notes	Lamri or Numri	लमरी चाहे नमरी
One Rupee	Ek ropeya (for quoting price)
Coin	Sikka
25 Paisa( a quarter)	Chau anni
50 Paisa( a half)	Atth anni (Atth = Aath)
75 Paisa(quarter to one)	Baarey anaa (Baarey = Baarah )
100 Paisa	Sorey anaa ( Sorey = Sorah)

Fruits and Vegetables

English	Bhojpuri	भोजपुरी	English	Bhojpuri	भोजपुरी
Mango	Aam	आम	Apple	Seo	सेव
Orange	Samtola/Limu	सम्तोला/लीमु	Lemon	Nimo	निमो
Grapefruit	Mausmi	मौसमी	Papaya	Papita/Armewa	पपीता/अरमेवा
Guava	Roonie/Amdur	रुनी/अमदुर	??	Jaamun	जामुन
??	Shataalu	शतालु	Pomegranate	Anaar	अनार
Grape	Angoor	अंगूर	??	Shareefa	शरीफा
Banana	Keraa	केरा	Lytchee	Litchi	लीची
Tomato	Tamaatar	टमाटर	Jackfruit	Katahar	कटहर
??	Bhuikatahar	भुईकटहर

Colors

English	Bhojpuri	भोजपुरी
Red	Laal	लाल
Green	Hariyur	हरियर
Blue	Aasmaani	आसमानी
Yellow	Piyar	पियर
Pink	Gulaabi	गुलाबी
Black	Kariya	करीया
White	Ujjar	उज्जर
Brown	Khairahu	खैरःहुँ
Gray	Raakh	राख
Indigo	Neel	नील
Rainbow	Saabhaa	साभा / इन्दरधनुष

Measurements

English	Bhojpuri	भोजपुरी
Feet	Haath	हाथ
Mile	Kos	कोस

Family Relations

English	Bhojpuri	भोजपुरी
Papa / Dad	Baabu / Abba	babuji
Mummy / Mom	Maai / Maay / Didi / Ammi	mai
Sister	Bahin / Didi / Baaji	bahin
Brother	Bhaai / Bhaiya
Grand Dad	Baba / Daada / Babba
Grand Mom	Daai / Aji / Eeya / Daadi / Amma

Some Idioms (khisa pacheesa)

न नौ मःन तेल होइ न राधा नाचे

चिरई के जान जाए लैका के खेलौना

न रही बाँस न बाजी बँसुरी

सौ सोनार के एक लोहार के

नापल जोखल थाहे लैका डुब गेल काहे

चानी सोना में लाग जाई काई दमड़ी के गोदना संगे जाई

रहली में दु जनी पादली में कए जनी

नाँच न जाने अँगनवे टेढ़

मन चंगा त कठौती में गंगा

खाएके सतुआ पादेके मीठाई

बाप के नाम साग पात पूत के नाम परोरा

एगो अनार सय गोड़े बेमार

जे खाए सुगर के गोस्त उ कैसे मिया के दोस्त ?

झोरी मे झाट/फुट्हा न सराय मे डेरा

दुध के रखवारी करे बिलाई

नाया नौ दिन पुराना सौ दिन

दिन भर हर-पर रात मे चहर-पहर पकड़े के गोड़ त पकड़ले बाड़े सोर

पानी में मछरी, नौ-नौ कुटिया बखरा

कौआ चले बगुला के चाल

बाप के नाम साग-पात बेटा के नाम परौर

दु अक्षर पढ़ लिया गुरुजी के दुख दिया बिन जोल ईद

हड्बडी के काम कनपट्टी मे सेनुर मेहरी के खीस डिहरी पर

सौती के खीस कठौती पर

बानर के हाथ मे नारियल

बाड़ी पूजा पर मन बाटे भूजा पर मांगे के भीख पादे के बीख

लोग कहे आम त इ कहे इमःली

राम राम जपना पराया माल अपना

सकल चुड़इल के, मजमून परी के

Bhojpuri Samples

Some samples of Bhojpuri Language include:

• PraÑām/Parnām. प्रणाम/ परणाम — all-purpose Hindu greeting,the former(PraÑām) is a Sanskritword and in Bhojpuri it is generally pronounced as Parnām, often translated as "I salute you" and in common usage simply means "hello" and even "goodbye."

• Pae Lagoo / Paalagi / Paa lagat tani - customary touching of feet to take the blessings of elders.

• Rām Rām/Jai Rām ji kī राम राम / जय राम जी की - Bye Bye or simply Hi!!.

• Hamar/Hamār/Morā nām Bharat ha हमर / हमार / मोरा नाम भरत ह — My name is Bharat.

• Kaisan Bā? कइसन बा ? — How are you/ What's up?

The following are more commonly used:

• kā ha? का ह? (informal)- What's the matter?, sab samāchār thīk ba? सब समाचार ठीक बा? are you all fine?

• khāek ho gaīl? खाएक हो गइल ? — Is the food ready?

• Bīrgunj bahūte baDka shahar hot jā rahal bā. बीरगञ्ज बहुते बड़का शहर होत जा रहल बा. Birgunj is becoming a big city.

• Deshwālī logan ke Bhojpurī,Maithili,Awadhi,Hindi, ā urdū se māyā kareke chāhĩ देशवाली लोगन के भोजपुरी, मैथिली, अवधी, हिन्दी आ उर्दू से माया करेके चाहीं — People of Terai shoul love Bhojpuri, Maithili, Awadhi, Hindi, and Urdu.

• Humni madheshi haĩī san हमनी मधेशी हैं सन — We are all Madheshi.

• Dogalchod pahadiya ke humni terai se mār bhagāem sanदोगलचोद पहडियां के हमनी तराई से मार भगाएम सन - We will kick the blooody Pahadia out of Terai.
• Jūg jūg jiya/ khus rah जुग जुग जिय/ खुश रह – long live/stay happy

• Beyr dūb gaīl? बेर डुब गईल? – has the sun set?

• kaūni beyr? कौनी बेर?– at what time?

Where is Mr. John? – मिस्टर जॉन कहाँ बाड़न? / मिस्टर जॉन कहाँ बानी? Where is Ramesh? - रमेशवा केने बा? / रमेशवा केने बाटे? Who has Sita called? सीता केकरा बोलौले बीया?