Vol. 7, Issue 3, Part E (2021)

Abstract
The feature aspiration or [spr.gl] is getting confined to certain fixed places in Bangla. The result is an overall reduction of the orthographic alphabet of the language, the aspirated stops being the major casualties. Out of the ten aspirates the voiced ones are no longer productive. The voiceless ones are allowed only in onsets in word initial and intervocalic positions. It is not as yet clear if any systematic alternatives are adopted by the language for the dying feature. For instance, in Tripura Bangla and Noakhali Bangla aspiration is replaced regularly by high tone. If a similar process is underway in Bangla too, before long the language can be listed amongst the tone languages. The paper provides a glimpse of the issue focusing only on velar aspirates.