Rohingya Language & Identity: The Profound Arabic Connection in Myanmar‘s Stateless Community6

The seemingly straightforward phrase "Myanmar Arabic" belies a profoundly complex linguistic, cultural, and political narrative, one that is inextricably linked to the Rohingya people. Often misunderstood and systematically marginalized, the Rohingya represent a unique intersection of South Asian heritage and Islamic tradition within the predominantly Buddhist nation of Myanmar (formerly Burma). As a language expert, dissecting this connection reveals not just lexical borrowings, but a deeper story of identity, resilience, and the power of language as a bulwark against erasure. This article will delve into the linguistic landscape of the Rohingya, exploring the nature of their language (often called Rohangyalish or Rohingya), its significant historical and ongoing relationship with Arabic, the development of its unique script, and the critical role this linguistic heritage plays in the survival of a persecuted people.

The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic minority group primarily from the Rakhine State (formerly Arakan) in western Myanmar. For decades, they have faced severe persecution, including denial of citizenship, restrictions on movement, and widespread violence, leading to their classification as "the most persecuted minority in the world" by the United Nations. Millions have fled to neighboring Bangladesh and other countries, creating one of the largest refugee crises of our time. Amidst this backdrop of human rights atrocities, their language stands as a powerful, yet vulnerable, emblem of their distinct identity, differentiating them from both the dominant Bamar population of Myanmar and the ethnic Rakhine majority in their home state.

Linguistically, Rohingya belongs to the Eastern Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family. It is closely related to Chittagonian, a dialect of Bengali spoken in the Chittagong region of Bangladesh, which borders Rakhine State. While sharing a common ancestry with Bengali, Rohingya has evolved with distinct phonological, morphological, and lexical features. Its phonetic inventory, for instance, includes specific sounds not present in standard Bengali, reflecting regional variations and historical isolation. Syntactically, it follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) structure, common among Indo-Aryan languages.

The "Arabic" in "Myanmar Arabic" refers not to a distinct language spoken by the Rohingya as a primary tongue, but to the pervasive and foundational influence of the Arabic language on their lexicon, religion, and cultural practices. This influence is multifaceted, stemming primarily from two major historical streams: religious instruction and trade. As a devout Muslim community, Arabic is the sacred language of the Quran, the foundational texts of Islam, and daily prayers (Salah). For centuries, Islamic scholars (ulama) and religious teachers (imams) have instructed Rohingya children and adults in madrasas (religious schools) using Arabic as the medium for Quranic studies and Islamic jurisprudence. This deep immersion in religious Arabic naturally led to the incorporation of a vast number of Arabic loanwords into everyday Rohingya vocabulary, particularly for religious, philosophical, and moral concepts.

Beyond the purely religious sphere, Arabic, along with Persian, historically served as a lingua franca across significant parts of the Islamic world, including the Indian subcontinent and maritime trade routes that connected regions like Arakan to the Middle East. Traders, mystics, and scholars traveling between these regions contributed to the linguistic exchange. As a result, many terms related to commerce, administration, law, and even common greetings in Rohingya carry Arabic (and sometimes Persian or Urdu) origins. For example, words like *salam* (peace/greeting), *dua* (prayer), *iman* (faith), *akhirat* (afterlife), *dunia* (world), *halal* (permissible), *haram* (forbidden), *kitab* (book), and many others are direct Arabic borrowings, seamlessly integrated into the Rohingya linguistic fabric. These aren't just technical terms; they are part of the daily conversation, reflecting a worldview shaped by Islamic tenets.

However, the most compelling evidence of the "Arabic connection" in Rohingya language extends beyond vocabulary to the very act of writing. For a long time, Rohingya was primarily an oral language. When written, it often utilized the Perso-Arabic script (an adapted version of the Arabic alphabet), the Burmese script, or even the Latin script. Each had its limitations in accurately representing Rohingya phonology. Recognizing the critical need for a standardized, culturally resonant script, a significant development occurred in the late 20th century: the creation and adoption of the *Hanafi script* for Rohingya. This script is a modified Arabic-based alphabet, specifically designed to capture the unique sounds of the Rohingya language. While fundamentally Arabic in its letterforms, it includes additional characters and diacritics to represent sounds specific to Rohingya that are not present in classical Arabic, much like Urdu or Persian adapted the Arabic script to their own phonological needs.

The development of the Hanafi script was not merely a linguistic exercise; it was a powerful act of identity formation and cultural self-assertion. In an environment where their very existence was denied, establishing a distinct, written form for their language, rooted in their religious heritage, became a vital tool for cultural preservation. It enabled the production of literature, educational materials, and even digital communication in their mother tongue, fostering a sense of pride and collective identity. The choice of an Arabic-based script reinforced their Islamic heritage and served as a clear differentiator from the surrounding Burmese and Rakhine cultures, which primarily use derivatives of Brahmic scripts.

The role of language in identity for the Rohingya cannot be overstated. In the face of systemic persecution, the denial of citizenship, and attempts to erase their history, speaking Rohingya and using the Hanafi script become acts of defiance. Their language serves as a crucial marker of their distinct ethnicity and a repository of their oral traditions, history, and cultural memory. It is the medium through which elders transmit stories, songs, and religious teachings to younger generations, ensuring the continuity of their heritage even in displacement.

However, statelessness and forced displacement pose existential threats to the Rohingya language. In refugee camps, particularly in Bangladesh, children often attend schools where the primary language of instruction is Bengali or, if international NGOs are involved, English. Opportunities for formal education in Rohingya are scarce, leading to concerns about intergenerational language loss. The vibrant oral traditions risk fading without formal preservation mechanisms. Furthermore, in host countries, the pressure to assimilate or integrate often leads to a shift away from the mother tongue towards the dominant language of the host society. This language shift, while a natural phenomenon for migrant communities, is acutely painful for the Rohingya, for whom their language is so intimately tied to their identity and struggle.

Despite these immense challenges, there are ongoing efforts, primarily by diaspora communities and international advocates, to preserve and promote the Rohingya language. Digital initiatives play a crucial role, with online dictionaries, language learning apps, and social media content being developed in Rohingya, often utilizing the Hanafi script. Activists are creating educational materials, children's books, and cultural narratives in Rohingya to ensure that the language continues to thrive, even if formal schooling is denied. These efforts are not just about linguistic survival; they are about human dignity and the right to cultural expression.

The "Myanmar Arabic" connection, therefore, is far more than a simple geographical descriptor or a linguistic curiosity. It is a testament to the complex ethno-linguistic landscape of Southeast Asia and the enduring power of cultural influences. For the Rohingya, their language, with its Indo-Aryan roots enriched by a profound Arabic overlay and codified in its unique Arabic-based script, is a living embodiment of their identity. It reflects their history, their faith, and their resilience in the face of unspeakable adversity. The struggle for the recognition and preservation of the Rohingya language is thus an integral part of their broader fight for justice, human rights, and the recognition of their very humanity. As language experts, we understand that to lose a language is to lose a unique way of understanding the world; for the Rohingya, it would be to lose a cornerstone of who they are, a testament to their presence, and a voice for their future.

2025-10-28

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