How Sri Lanka's Bohra community keeps Lisan ud-Dawat alive

Lisan ud-Dawat remains part of everyday life for Sri Lanka's Dawoodi Bohra community. Closely related to Gujarati, its vocabulary also reflects Arabic, Persian and Urdu influences.

Community members describe speaking the language at home with children and relatives as central to its continuity. Religious discourse uses more formal vocabulary, while daily conversation absorbs local expressions.

Contact with Sinhala, Tamil and English also shapes speech in Sri Lanka. Members describe maintaining the home language alongside education and business in other languages as an important part of their cultural identity.