The role of social networks in language maintenance among Bangladeshi migrants in Southeast Queensland, Australia

Abstract This article is the first language maintenance research that explores language use in social networks among Bangladeshi migrants in Southeast Queensland, Australia, a group that has not been extensively studied. The ethnographic case study of 20 participants from this group of migrants investigates their language behavior and practices in different social networks. The findings of this study show how the ties of social networks act as an important area of Bangla language use and practices in Australia. They further show the persistence of Bangladeshi migrants in sustaining home country connections through their strong language maintenance. The results provide insight into the factors influencing their language choices in different social networks, emphasizing the relationship between language and identity, as well as the dynamics of social integration in the new place of settlement. Furthermore, the study suggests that the Bangla language is unlikely to disappear from this society, owing to the strong national sentiment and identity among its speakers. This study significantly enhances understanding of language maintenance in the Bangladeshi diaspora and provides a detailed and in-depth examination of language use within social networks, exploring the complex interplay between language, identity, and social networks.