Why are dialects vanishing among the Bangladeshi youth?

"Oh, our mother tongue, Bangla, blooms with beauty in many shades." Amidst our sweet Bangla language, there is a magic; the magic of dialect. Bangla is not just a single language; it's the living rhythm of countless dialects, each carrying the history and identity of our land. However, in today's rapidly changing Bangladesh, dialects are becoming increasingly homogenised.

As Dhakai Bangla dominates the classrooms, media, and society, once-rich dialects are fading away, leaving less room for preserving their heritage. Now, for many, dialect is more about survival than heritage, raising concerns that often go unspoken, yet it is a significant concern.

You may have noticed that the older generation speaks in regional dialects rather than pure Bangla. But again, if you look at their grandchildren, they are not as regular speakers as they are.

Even if they are fluent in their native dialects, they are increasingly adopting Dhakai Bangla. And why? This is the result of changing values, culture, and a shift in lifestyles.

"Growing up, I have seen that my parents use dialects most of the time in every occasion, whereas the tendency of speaking dialects among my siblings is relatively less," stated Siam Ahmed, who grew up in Joypurhat.

As the communication gap between elders and their grandchildren widens, it weakens their family bond and cultural interpretation. Generations are becoming more modernised, showing less interest in using dialects or local history.

In some cases, people, especially those in Gen Z, struggle to understand their own dialects. This happens because of the region's lack of cultural consciousness.

As they are more accustomed to a digitalised society and technology, they are less familiar with native dialects in their content. So, they lost their curiosity and put little effort into understanding the dialect; instead, they delved deeply into their local culture.

That's why they struggle to learn and understand the dialects and local proverbs. Some find their local dialect difficult, while others are fluent yet confused by specific phrases.

"I understand my dialect well, but in some cases, it's hard for me to understand some terms. Personally, I prefer pure Bangla more and find it comfortable, less trouble to understand," commented Siam Ahmed.

Some dialects consist of words and phrases that are very similar to those found in urban Bangla. So, people from those specific districts have almost no difficulties in learning and understanding their dialects.

Shahriar Swapnil, an undergrad from the University of Dhaka, says, "The language of Barishal is differently toned Bangla, so the differences are very few; almost unnoticeable. But some dialects have many more differences. I am comfortable in both my dialect and pure Bangla as they share lots of common things."

Rural families often move to city life in search of better job opportunities and access to quality education. They adjust to the 'Dhakai Bangla' to blend in quickly. But the accent remains the same for many while expressing their feelings. And so, they sometimes face embarrassment, feeling the pressure to switch.

"In Dhaka city, dialects are not cordially welcomed. One often faces mockery because of one's dialect. However, in my opinion, dialects are our roots and an integral part of our culture. The young generation shouldn't be ashamed of their dialect, but rather be proud of it," Siam speaking about acceptance in urban society.

Social pressure leads them to quickly adapt to the language, slowly neglecting their own dialect and avoiding being perceived as being from a lower social class or uneducated.

Particular dialects are often associated with jokes, sarcasm, and stereotypes, reinforcing a sense of inferiority. They struggle to adapt to the ever-changing city life, which causes them to fall behind in communication.

In fact, it is more of a survival tool rather than the comfort of speaking your own dialect. This leads to the abandonment of dialects among the younger generation. While mentioning identity crisis, Shahriar Swapnil expresses, "It depends person to person. If someone is confident in the way he speaks, then there is no room for any identity crisis."

The education curriculum in city areas uses the 'Standard Bangla textbooks, and it is considered a sole medium to provide instructions and a common language.

Dialects are mostly left behind unrecognised and dismissed. Teachers pressurise students to adapt to the standard Bangla for academic success and social mobility.

Students are corrected or shamed for their dialect accents, pushing them to eliminate their mother tongue. Standard Bangla is normalised and quoted as the 'correct' and 'civilised language', especially in urban cities.

The digital platforms often promote dialects in a new form of life.

The impact of texting and social media algorithms favours the Standard Bangla as 'global' rather than regional dialects. The blend of English and Bangla forms a hybrid language, bypassing the traditional dialects.

Comedy sitcoms, funny parody videos on social media, TikToks, and relatable memes on dialects often go viral among the targeted audience. As for the Bangladeshi audience, one notable example can be 'Ityadi', a popular magazine television program that airs on Bangladesh Television. A remarkable drama segment features foreigners portraying Bangladeshis in traditional attire, representing local culture, and conversing in regional dialects.

The cultural diversity, along with lively and funny conversations in village areas, allows the audience to engage and helps preserve dialects for the new generation.

Dialects are like rivers-each carrying its own local culture, folklore, phrases and rituals. Losing them means losing years of traditions that uphold humour, wisdom, and unique ways of life in different regions in the country.

Even though dialects are fading, not everything is getting lost. Social media, family, and cultural roots are finding ways to preserve their mother tongue.

Village evenings echoed with dialect songs and folklore, jokes and humour. To preserve dialects is to protect our identity, our roots, the laughter of our grandparents, the knowledge of proverbs, and the warmth of the mother tongue, which is often spoken only at home. Without them, we might forget who we are, what we are.

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