Part 2/2
To recap I attended Dr Fatima Rajina’s book launch, which focuses on the changing landscape of language and dress of the British Bangladeshi Muslims living in the East End of London.
*Discussion takeaways – Language*
– Culture is not only around us but within us.
– There are many untold stories. It is important to unpack them through the lens of sub-communities to have a rich understanding.
– A large population of Bangladeshis follow the religion of Islam. Though faith and culture can align, they do also at times clash too, one may take precedent over the other.
– Bangladeshis living in UK have a minimum of three identities and languages; British (English, then regional languages such as Welsh), Bangladeshi (Bengali) and Muslim – followers of the Islamic faith (for which religious scriptures are written and recited often in Arabic)
– Fatima illustrated learning Arabic to be able to understand and recite religious scriptures has taken precedent over learning the Bengali language.
– Thinking about it, growing up many of us from the Bangladeshi community in the UK went to supplementary schools on weekends to learn Bengali. This was part of weekly routine and the importance of our native language was placed by our elders. There’s less talk about these supplementary school now.
– For day-to-day communication many now converse in the language of english, at times in settings over Bengali.
– Fatima outlined the Bengali language in the UK is on the decline amongst the younger generation. I have seen it for myself in family settings and if I’m honest makes me feel a little sad.
– Though at times one’s mother tongue can be taken for granted it also carried elements of culture…terms, words, phases are deeply embedded within culture, which can not be directly translated, switched directly with another word for example in English.
– The Bengali language also features elements of etiquette, ways in which elders and peers for example are addressed.
– The sustainability of native languages within communities migrating and integrating into the UK is worth further cultural research.
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:share:7265671316685434880
