| KRNB lects | |
|---|---|
| KRDS lects, Kamatapuri, Kamta | |
| Native to | India, Bangladesh, Nepal |
| Region | Northern West Bengal, Western Assam, North Eastern Bihar, Northern Bangladesh, Southeast Nepal |
| Dialects | Rajbansi, Kamtapuri, Rangpuri, Deshi, Surjapuri, Dhekri |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
| Glottolog | kamt1242 |
KRNB lects (orKamtapuri, Rajbanshi and Northern Bangla lects) are a cluster of modern lects that are phylogenetic descendants of the proto-Kamata language.[4] The proto-Kamata language began differentiating after 1250 around Kamatapur, the capital city of Kamata kingdom, as the western branch of the proto-Kamarupa,[5] whereas the eastern branch developed into proto-Assamese. Since the 16th century the proto-Kamta community has fragmented giving rise to the differentiated modern lects.[6] The modern lects are:[7][8] Kamta (Assam and West Bengal), Rangpuri (Bangladesh), Rajbanshi (Nepal) and Surjapuri (Bihar).[9]
These modern lects could be categorised into three groups: western, central and eastern.[10] Unlike the Assamese, Bengali, Hindi and Nepali languages which were standardised and propagated in the 19th and 20th centuries,[11] the KRNB lects were not standardised. As a result, the KRNB lects became diglossic vernaculars to these standard varieties and acquired phonological and morphological features from them.[12]
Nevertheless, two standards are emerging within the KRNB lects: a central Jhapa variety targeting speakers in Nepal, and an eastern Cooch Behar variety targeting speakers in northern West Bengal and western Assam.[13]
The development of proto-Kamta was the result of Sandhya, a ruler of Kamarupa Nagara (North Guwahati), Kamrup moving his capital[5] to Kamatapur and establishing the Kamata kingdom, thus carrying the native language along with.
The modern KRNB lects are spoken primarily in western Assam, northern West Bengal, northern Bangladesh, north-eastern Bihar and south-eastern Nepal.[9]
