Toto Language and Rajbanshi Language: A Comparative Study

Abstract

The present study offers a comparative analysis of two indigenous languages of North Bengal — Toto and Rajbanshi — focusing on their linguistic structures, historical backgrounds, and sociolinguistic dynamics. The Toto language, a Tibeto-Burman tongue, is spoken by the endangered Toto community in Totopara, while Rajbanshi, belonging to the Eastern Indo-Aryan group, is spoken by a larger population spread across India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. This study examines the phonological, morphological, syntactic, and lexical features of both languages, highlighting their distinct typological traits as well as areas of convergence due to regional contact. The investigation also explores the socio-political challenges, language vitality, and revival efforts faced by each language. While Toto faces critical endangerment with limited speakers and minimal transmission, Rajbanshi shows signs of dialectal variation and gradual language shift under external linguistic pressures. This research draws upon fieldwork data, historical records, and linguistic surveys to present an original comparative perspective that contributes to the broader discourse on minority language preservation, contact linguistics, and North Bengal's ethno-linguistic diversity.