Why are Sylheti’s ashamed of the Sylheti basha

[Amar-Sonar-Bangla]

Over 95% of Bangladeshi expatriates in the UK (and an overwhelming majority in other Western countries) are Sylheti’s. This region is unique in Bangladesh for having it’s own language, more than a dialect as found in other areas of Bangladesh.

The language has its own Nagri alphabet, distinct grammar and it’s own heritage of literature. Originating from the time of Shah Jalal Yemeni and the introduction of Islam to Bangladesh.

Yet it is considered to be the language of uneducated, uncouth peasants and only fit for colloquial/conversional use. Many Bangali’s feel ashamed of speaking Sylheti at formal occasions and resort to broken Shudho Bangla basha.

Even an expert Sylheti Bangla speaker will surely be given away by his accent/ucharon as Sylheti?

I realise the function of Shudho Bangla as the lingua franca of Bangladesh and for convenience-sake in Bangladesh.

I think Sylheti ought to be more prominent in the British-Bangla expatriate community. Sylheti’s should be more confident in using the language most of us are more comfortable with in everyday life and our community.

[S_BIBI]

Originally posted by Amar-Sonar-Bangla
Over 95% of Bangladeshi expatriates in the UK (and an overwhelming majority in other Western countries) are Sylheti’s. This region is unique in Bangladesh for having it’s own language, more than a dialect as found in other areas of Bangladesh.

The language has its own Nagri alphabet, distinct grammar and it’s own heritage of literature. Originating from the time of Shah Jalal Yemeni and the introduction of Islam to Bangladesh.

Yet it is considered to be the language of uneducated, uncouth peasants and only fit for colloquial/conversional use. Many Bangali’s feel ashamed of speaking Sylheti at formal occasions and resort to broken Shudho Bangla basha.

Even an expert Sylheti Bangla speaker will surely be given away by his accent/ucharon as Sylheti?

I realise the function of Shudho Bangla as the lingua franca of Bangladesh and for convenience-sake in Bangladesh.

I think Sylheti ought to be more prominent in the British-Bangla expatriate community. Sylheti’s should be more confident in using the language most of us are more comfortable with in everyday life and our community.

Well im never ashmed of speaking syhlty.. cause that is our mother tongue.. and i love the sylheti basha.. allot of people intend to avoid using sylhety basha and speak shuthu.. ok yes its best to learn the both.. but why are people ashmed to use the sylheti basha..!!

even though i can speak shuthu but i still speak sylhety.. i think its nice and unquie..

i.e.. ammi bala asshi..

[Anika]

well it's obvious, it is thought as the uncultured and the unlearned language. It is because of the image it has unfortunatly and though many sylheties are successful, maybe even more so then the average Dhakaiya, people assume they are not educated because of their dialect.

Well one side of my famaly is sylhety and so I hear it a lot when I meet them. (well not my mom because she grew up in Dhaka but she knows it)I'm trying to learn it from ammu, but not that easy especially your not even sure what your exactly saying hehe. but I understand most of it.


Rishka

[Amar-Sonar-Bangla]

You are correct. The Sylheti language has a bad image. This is unfortunate as it has such a rich tradition with words borrowed from Arabic and Persian languages.


Don't worry Anika, we at B.Com consider you an 'honorary Sylheti.' What say you?

[Anika]

I say thank you and I welcome myself to the club lol. My dad noticed how close most sylhety families are and how much they help out one of their own. Yes it's true that the accent and the gutteral sounds in the dialect comes from Arabic because that is the area they had settled upon long ago. Every area is affected by the individual who conquored it.

[S_BIBI]

And i say amar shunar bangladesh amme khub balo pai..

hehe

[shunar-moyna]

i aint ashamed of my sylhety lanuage