ABSTRACT
Maldivians take great pride in the fact that the Dhivehi language is unique to the Maldives, and note that this linguistic heritage has been a unifying agent when its people are scattered across a country where there is more sea than land. The variety of Dhivehi spoken in Male has always been regarded as the standard form of the language, and is the only accepted form of written communication. While Dhivehi is the dominant language in contemporary Maldivian society, attitudes towards Dhivehi are changing, particularly among the youth. Recognising the influence from other languages in a globalised world, the act was passed to protect the nation’s linguistic heritage for generations to come. The critical attitude towards Dhivehi may also be attributed to the lack of resources available in the language, particularly for children. The new National Curriculum also identifies the need to learn languages beyond the mother tongue and English.
