ABSTRACT
Global population migration (whether forced or intentional) is a long-standing yet ongoing process. In this milieu, heritage language maintenance, shift, and identity construction appear as universal and crucial phenomena. Within the qualitative research paradigm, the current chapter aims to explore, conceptualise, and discuss the nexus between language attitudes and identity (re)development among the Rohingya community in Bangladesh. More precisely, the study investigated the attitudes of Rohingya parents and their second-generation children towards their heritage language, its maintenance, shift, and identity development. Drawing on semi-structured interview data collected from seven Rohingya parents and 12 adolescents, the findings indicated participants’ positive attitudes towards both the Rohingya and Bangla languages. However, the study also reported the young Rohingya generation's instrumental view towards Bangla and the propensity of identity redevelopment during their stateless and uncertain future in Bangladesh. The research, thus, brings new insights into a less-explored context by informing our theoretical understanding of the language attitudes and identity formation of the Rohingya community rooted in their past, present, and future.
