ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the place of language in the formation of British Bangladeshi identity. It becomes apparent that the intrinsic interest of the study of language within the Bangladeshi community is overshadowed by pressing areas of practical concern directly related to the understanding, or misunderstanding, of linguistic identity and needs. The chapter argues that underlying the technical issues of linguistic definition is a deeper ambivalence towards the recognition and representation of diversity within the Bangladeshi community. Language is central not only to the identity of many British Asian communities but also to their evaluation by the mainstream media. In particular, language usage is frequently taken as a measure of commitment to integration within British society. The birth of Bangladesh could hardly have been a more dramatic demonstration of the power of linguistic nationalism.
