View in EDS

To Speak or Not to Speak Urdu: A Bihari Dilemma in Bangladesh

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: To Speak or Not to Speak Urdu: A Bihari Dilemma in Bangladesh
Language: English
Authors: Mohammad Sajjad Hossen (ORCID 0009-0005-2362-8778), Paul J. Moore
Source: Australian Review of Applied Linguistics. 2026 49(1):1-30.
Availability: John Benjamins Publishing Company. Klaprozenweg 105 Postbus 36224, NL-1020 ME Amsterdam, Netherlands. Tel: +31-20-6304747; Fax: +31-20-6739773; e-mail: subscription@benjamins.nl; Web site: https://www.benjamins.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 30
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Urdu, Language Minorities, Public Opinion, Negative Attitudes, Social Bias, Language Role, Stakeholders, Community Influence, Social Influences, Language Attitudes, Language Usage
Geographic Terms: Bangladesh
DOI: 10.1075/aral.23061.hos
ISSN: 0155-0640
1833-7139
Abstract: The only Urdu-speaking community in Bangladesh, known as the Bihari community, is a historically unique group that has experienced two consecutive dislocations within a period of 25 years. The community and their language have a troubled history in the country. This study sought to qualitatively understand some Bangladeshi Urdu speakers' Urdu-related experiences and perceptions from the perspective of minority language rights. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were then analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Findings show that the research participants were aware of Urdu's illegitimacy in public perceptions. This stigma attached to Urdu affected their adherence to the Urdu language and motivated them to prioritize learning Bangla for greater social and economic integration. The study identified a critical necessity for legal protections to strengthen the link between Urdu and Urdu speakers. This study significantly contributes to the extant literature on minority language rights by unveiling how the historical past, nation-building discourses, and media representations can potentially shape and reshape the language choice of a speech minority.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1497713
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1497713
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: To Speak or Not to Speak Urdu: A Bihari Dilemma in Bangladesh
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mohammad+Sajjad+Hossen%22">Mohammad Sajjad Hossen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2362-8778">0009-0005-2362-8778</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Paul+J%2E+Moore%22">Paul J. Moore</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Australian+Review+of+Applied+Linguistics%22"><i>Australian Review of Applied Linguistics</i></searchLink>. 2026 49(1):1-30.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: John Benjamins Publishing Company. Klaprozenweg 105 Postbus 36224, NL-1020 ME Amsterdam, Netherlands. Tel: +31-20-6304747; Fax: +31-20-6739773; e-mail: subscription@benjamins.nl; Web site: https://www.benjamins.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 30
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Urdu%22">Urdu</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Minorities%22">Language Minorities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+Opinion%22">Public Opinion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Negative+Attitudes%22">Negative Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Bias%22">Social Bias</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Role%22">Language Role</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Stakeholders%22">Stakeholders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+Influence%22">Community Influence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Influences%22">Social Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Attitudes%22">Language Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Usage%22">Language Usage</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bangladesh%22">Bangladesh</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1075/aral.23061.hos
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0155-0640<br />1833-7139
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The only Urdu-speaking community in Bangladesh, known as the Bihari community, is a historically unique group that has experienced two consecutive dislocations within a period of 25 years. The community and their language have a troubled history in the country. This study sought to qualitatively understand some Bangladeshi Urdu speakers' Urdu-related experiences and perceptions from the perspective of minority language rights. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were then analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Findings show that the research participants were aware of Urdu's illegitimacy in public perceptions. This stigma attached to Urdu affected their adherence to the Urdu language and motivated them to prioritize learning Bangla for greater social and economic integration. The study identified a critical necessity for legal protections to strengthen the link between Urdu and Urdu speakers. This study significantly contributes to the extant literature on minority language rights by unveiling how the historical past, nation-building discourses, and media representations can potentially shape and reshape the language choice of a speech minority.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1497713
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1497713
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1075/aral.23061.hos
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 30
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Urdu
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Minorities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Public Opinion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Negative Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Bias
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Role
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Stakeholders
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Community Influence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Influences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Usage
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Bangladesh
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: To Speak or Not to Speak Urdu: A Bihari Dilemma in Bangladesh
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mohammad Sajjad Hossen
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Paul J. Moore
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0155-0640
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1833-7139
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 49
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Australian Review of Applied Linguistics
              Type: main
ResultId 1