Bengali Typing - A Guide to Complex Conjunct Characters Part 1: Understanding the Basics of Bengali Script

The Bengali script is an abugida, meaning that each consonant carries an inherent vowel sound unless modified by additional symbols. Unlike English, where letters stand alone, Bengali characters are often combined to form words.

Key Components of Bengali Script

1. Consonants (ব্যঞ্জনবর্ণ) – These are the primary building blocks of words. Examples include ক (ka), গ (ga), ত (ta), ন (na), ম (ma), র (ra).

2. Vowels (স্বরবর্ণ) – These modify the pronunciation of consonants. Bengali has independent vowels like অ (a), ই (i), উ (u), এ (e), ও (o), as well as dependent vowel symbols (কার) that attach to consonants.

3. Diacritics (কার চিহ্ন) – These symbols modify consonants to create new sounds. For example:

   • ক + া = কা (kaa)
   • ত + ি = তি (ti)
   • ন + ু = নু (nu)

4. Halant (্) or Virama – This removes the inherent vowel sound from a consonant, allowing it to join with another consonant. For example, "ক" (ka) + "্" = "ক্" (k).

Why This Matters?

Understanding these basics is crucial before you start typing complex conjunct characters. Without them, forming proper Bengali words will be difficult.