Shabdakalpa
Shabdakalpa is a digital historical dictionary that documents the evolution of the Bengali language over time, offering valuable insights into its linguistic development. Spearheaded by the School of Cultural Texts and Records at Jadavpur University, this ambitious project seeks to create a comprehensive record of the language’s history. As a fundamental tool for studying all uses and applications of the language, Shabdakalpa stands as a landmark resource for understanding Bengali in its full historical and cultural depth.
A history of the language
It draws on a comprehensive corpus of all periods, presenting the full history of each word and the language.
A companion to literature
Authoritative guide for spelling, usage, learning, and editing Bengali texts across eras; essential for scholars and students alike.
A treasury for Bengali culture
Encyclopedic dictionary tracing word origins, meanings, and usage across texts—documenting Bengali life with annotated sources and quotations.
Every word.
Every era.
One dictionary.
From the ancient Caryāpāda, through the vibrant Madhyayuga, the intellectual awakening of the 19th century, to the dynamic 21st century — Shabdakalpa preserves the complete evolution of Bengali language and culture.
Shabdakalpa is a historical dictionary that traces the evolution of every word across all periods. It explores when each word first appeared, how its form, meaning, and usage have transformed over time, offering a uniquely detailed history of the Bengali language.
Across fields, across contexts
Shabdakalpa can be an essential tool in various fields such as education, literature, publishing, research, and the understanding of technical terms (paribhasha). It is more than a dictionary—it is a one-stop resource and a comprehensive storehouse of data on Bengali life, history, and culture.
The complete chronicle of Bengali language and life
Etymology. Evolution. Evidence.
- Records the first occurrence of a word
- Records the first occurrence of every new meaning
- Groups these meanings by semantic evolution
- Records all major changes of form
- Documents every example with source and quotation
- Records the etymology
- Annotates significant points of meaning and usage
Authoritative. Comprehensive. Historical.
- a dictionary for all texts and levels
- a comprehensive online teaching and study aid
- a reference tool for editors of Bengali texts of all periods
- the final authority on all points of spelling and usage
- an encyclopedia of unique granularity for all Bengali life and culture
Project Leads
A diverse team of experts, young students, and fellows, all committed to bringing Shabdakalpa to life.
Sukanta Chaudhuri
Project Director
Subha Chakraborty Dasgupta
Project Director
Abhijit Gupta
Director, SCTR
Our Advisors
A global milestone
Historical dictionaries like Shabdakalpa stand as symbols of a language’s cultural and intellectual maturity. Complete or well-advanced historical dictionaries exist only for a few European languages.
Once completed, this monumental undertaking will undeniably raise the Bengali language to an unparalleled level of global recognition and acclaim.
Securing Bengali’s place in the world
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A great step forward in world recognition of Bengali
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The first historical dictionary of a non-Western language
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A monumental project showcasing cultural and intellectual maturity
Advancing digital lexicography
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The world’s first born-digital historical dictionary
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Pioneering new standards in language documentation
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Pushing the boundaries of digital humanities and linguistic scholarship
A template for other languages
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A model for non-Western lexicographic projects
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Demonstrates feasibility of large-scale digital initiatives
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A roadmap for future historical dictionaries in underserved languages
How to help?
Shabdakalpa is more than a dictionary—it is a cultural milestone, a symbol of Bengali’s intellectual maturity, and a once-in-a-generation project to secure its place among the world’s great languages. Historical dictionaries of this kind exist only for a handful of European tongues. For Bengali—the world’s seventh most spoken language—to have one is both urgent and long overdue.
We’ve come far, but the path ahead is long and deeply collaborative. Your support can help us complete this digitally powered, human-driven work
With your generous contributions, you can help us complete this journey and secure for Bengali the attention and recognition it rightfully deserves.
Media mentions
Tracking the journey
We’ve come a long way, but there’s more to do. Explore how many books, journals, and texts have been processed so far—and how much remains—as we continue building this living archive of the Bengali language.
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