The Many Languages of Nepal

The Nepali language was originally called Khaskura (language of the Khas—rice farmers of Nepal’s western hills). Later, it was called Parbatiya (the language of the hill people), and still later, as Gorkhali (the language of the Gorkhas). While Nepali remains the official medium, the languages of Nepal represent a vast and diverse linguistic landscape.

According to the 2001 Census, there were 11 million native Nepali speakers, and the language is spoken by millions more worldwide, including 2.9 million people of Nepali origin in India. However, with over 100 distinct ethnicities across the country, the 2001 Census also identified 92 other specific languages of Nepal (plus one categorized as ‘unknown’), reflecting the deep cultural variety found from the high Himalayas to the southern plains.

Nepal’s languages can be divided according to origin: Indo-Aryan, Tibeto-Burman, Mongolian, and indigenous. According to one study (Linguistic Surveys in Nepal: A Glimpse, Dan Raj Regmi),  the  Tibeto-Burman language family comprising 57 languages is the largest in terms of number of languages whereas Indo-Aryan language family, though having 17 languages, is the largest in terms of number of speakers.

Maithili: It is used in south-eastern Terai: mainly Janakpur, Sagarmatha and Koshi Zones. It is also the primary language 12.18 million Indians of Bihar, Jharkhand and parts of West Bengal.

Bhojpuri: It is spoken in southern Nepal: Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Chitwan, Nawalparasi and Rupandehi districts. It is also a major language of India: especially of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.

Tharu: It has different dialects influenced by neighboring Indian languages. Western Nepal’s ‘Dangaura’, ‘Kathoriya’ and ‘Rana’, are variants of Urdu and Awadhi of Uttar Pradesh and ‘Chitwania’ is a variant of Bhojpuri while ‘Kochila’ is a variant of Maithili in eastern Nepal.

Tamang: There are five dialects: eastern Tamang, northwestern Tamang, southwestern Tamang, eastern Gorkha Tamang, and western Tamang. It is spoken in Sindhupalchowk, Rasuwa, Lalitpur, Dhading, Makwanpur, Nuwakot, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Chitwan and Kavreplanchowk districts.

Nepal Bhasa: It is the language of the Newars of Kathmandu Valley. The first original book in this language is a chronicle called ‘Gopalraj Banshawali’ while the oldest book, ‘Haramekhala’ (1374 AD), is a translation.

Magar Kura: Magar Kura is the language of the Magars and is spoken in the western, mid-western and eastern hills. The script is known as ‘Akha Lip’”.The Kham Magar of the far western districts speak the Kham Magar language while the Magars of Dolpa District speak Tarali or Kaike dialects.

Awadhi: The major language of central Uttar Pradesh in India, Awadhi is spoken in Lumbini, Rapti and Bheri Zones of Nepal.

Bantawa: A part of the Kiranti group of languages, it is classified into eastern Bantawa (Dhankuta), western Bantawa (Amchoke, Sorung, Saharaja), northern Bantawa (Dilpali, Rungchenbung, Yangma) and southern Bantawa (Hatuwali, Hangkhim). It is spoken by the Rais of Nepal’s eastern hills.

Gurung: Gurung,or Tamu Kyi, is spoken in two dialects, eastern Gurung and western Gurung and spoken by the Gurungs who inhabit the Western Development Region of Nepal.

Limbu: Its script is known as Sirijangga and it is one of the two dozen Kiranti languages with four main dialects: Panchthare, Phedape, Chatthare and Taplejunge. The Limbus, who live in the eastern hills, call themselves Yakthumbas and their language as Yakthungpan,.

Bajjika: People living in Sarlahi and Rauthat districts of Nepal’s Terai speak the language. A Bihari language, it serves as a transition between Bhojpuri and Maithili.

Many Nepali languages are now endangered and according to a study (Linguistic Surveys in Nepal: A Glimpse, Dan Raj Regmi) only 18.47% (17) of the total languages have been categorized as safe languages and 16.30% (15) languages are almost safe while 23.91% (22) are endangered with 12 in the serious category.

Sources:
http://www.cbs.gov.np/Population/National%20Report%202001/tab19.htm
Lewis, M. Paul (ed.), 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International;