Objective: Language, as a fundamental instrument of communication and cultural transmission, has played a pivotal role from the birth of human civilization to the present day. Nevertheless, not all language varieties are regarded as equally valued, and speakers of certain varieties experience a phenomenon known as linguistic shame in specific social contexts. Therefore, the present study aims to explore the process by which linguistic shame is formed through dialect speakers' memories, to portray part of this experience and gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying the emergence and persistence of this phenomenon.

Method: This study was conducted using a narrative ethnography approach, and data were collected through observation, informal interviews, and life history writing at Yazd University as a linguistic contact zone. In this study, purposive sampling with maximum variation was employed. The criteria for selecting participants included having experience of linguistic shame. Subsequently, the comprehensive narratives derived from the participants' experiences of linguistic shame were coded based on conceptual overlap and coherence.

Results: The findings of this study, based on the analysis of narratives and observations, indicate that the experience of linguistic shame can be structured into two main narrative codes and five sub-codes. External pressure comprises the sub-codes of the construction of shame in everyday life, the defective voice, and the compulsion toward linguistic assimilation. The internalization of the other’s gaze consists of the sub-codes of concealment of the mother tongue and I am not classy.

Conclusions: The findings of this research indicate that linguistic shame is not a transient feeling but rather a profound and enduring experience. Indeed, some narrators in the study had encoded memories of linguistic shame from their childhood and adolescence in their bodily and mental memory well into young adulthood. Consequently, speakers affected by linguistic shame endure considerable difficulties, an experience that not only undermines their self-esteem but also drives some to suppress their local language, accent, or dialect. Thus, by foregrounding the voices of the narrators, the present study contributes to a deeper understanding of linguistic inequalities and underscores the necessity for cultural policymakers to attend to linguistic diversity in Iran.