Languages of Nepal

Languages of Nepal
Ethnolinguistic map of Nepal
OfficialNepali
Semi-officialNewar, Maithili, Limbu, Bhojpuri, Bajjika, Tamang, Magar, Gurung, Tharu, Awadhi, Dotyali, Khas language (Karnali dialect), English
IndigenousMany Indo-Aryan languages and Sino-Tibetan languages; Kurukh, Santali
VernacularNepalese English
ForeignEnglish, Hindi
SignedNepali Sign Language  • Jhankot Sign Language  • Jumla Sign Language  • Ghandruk Sign Language
Keyboard layout
QWERTY/Nepali keyboard

Languages of Nepal, referred to as Nepalese languages in the country's constitution, are the languages having at least an ancient history or origin inside the sovereign territory of Nepal spoken by Nepalis. The 2011 national census listed 123 languages spoken as a mother tongue (first language) in Nepal.[1] Most belong to the Indo-Aryan and Sino-Tibetan language families.

The official working language at federal level is Nepali, but the constitution provisions each province to choose one or more additional official working languages.[2] The Language Commission of Nepal On September 6, 2021 recommended 14 official languages for different provinces of Nepal.[3]

The mother languages of Nepal, or languages of Nepali origin are sometimes referred to as Nepali languages.[4][5]

National languages[edit]

According to the constitution of Nepal, "All languages spoken as the mother tongue in Nepal are the languages of the nation".[6] Many of the languages also have various dialects. For example, the Rai community has about 30 languages. Some of the languages are similar and may be considered as a dialect. sometimes the distinction between dialects or completely different languages is unclear and might differ in opinions from person to person.[7]

Classification[edit]

Nepal's languages are mostly either Indo-European or Sino-Tibetan, while only a very few of them are Austro-Asiatic and Dravidian.

Out of 123 languages of Nepal, the 48 Indo-European languages, which are of the Indo-Aryan (Indic) sub-family (excluding English), constitute the largest group in terms of the numeric strength of their speakers, nearly 82.1%[8] of population. Nepali, Bhojpuri, Maithili, Awadhi, Tharu languages, Urdu, etc. fall in this group.

The Sino-Tibetan family of Nepal's languages forms a part of its Tibeto-Burman group. Though spoken by relatively fewer people than the Indo-European family (17.3%[8] of population), it includes a greater number of languages, about 63 languages. Languages belonging to this group are Tamang, Nepal Bhasa (Newar), Magar, Limbu, etc.

The small declining number of Dravidian languages are represented by Kurux, and the Munda languages of the Austroasiatic family by Santali and Mundari.

The indigenous languages of Nepal that predated the influx of Indic, Tibeto-Burman, and other families barely survive in the Kusunda language, which is nearly extinct today.[9]

Nepal also has at several indigenous village sign languages: Jhankot Sign Language, Jumla Sign Language, and Ghandruk Sign Language, in addition to the Nepali Sign Language designed for national use.[10]

Number of speakers by language family
(2011 Census)
Language family Number Percentage
Indo-European 21,752,496 82.10%
Sino-Tibetan 4,584,871 17.31%
Austro-Asiastic 49,858 0.19%
Dravidian 33,651 0.13%
Others/Not reported 73,375 0.27%
Total 26,494,504 100%

Constitution[edit]

Street sign in Ranjana script, Devanagari script and English in Kathmandu

Part 1 of the Constitution of Nepal 2015 (2072 B.S.) contains these provisions about the languages of Nepal:[2]

  • Article 6: All languages spoken as the mother tongue in Nepal are the languages of the nation.
  • Article 7(1): The Nepali language in the Devanagari script shall be the official language of Nepal.
  • Article 7(2): A Province may, by a provincial law, determine one or more than one languages of the nation spoken by a majority of people within the Province as its official language or languages, in addition to the Nepali language.

Languages in Nepal by numbers of speakers[edit]

According to the 2011 national census, Nepali native speakers make up less than half the population, about 44.6%.[11] Most of the languages in Nepal are endangered because out of the 129 languages, only 19 of them have more than 100,000 speakers. Those languages are spoken by 95.91% of the total population.

The 2019 annual report of the Language Commission of Nepal registered six languages not previously counted: Rana Tharu, Nar Phu, Chum (Syaar), Nubri (Larke), Poike and Serake (Seke). These languages are spoken in the districts of Kanchanpur, Manang, Gorkha, Dolpa, and Mustang respectively.[12][better source needed]

Number of native speakers (2011 Census)[8]
Rank Language Language family Count Percentage
1 Nepali Indo-European 11,826,953 44.64%
2 Maithili Indo-European 3,092,530 11.67%
3 Bhojpuri Indo-European 1,584,958 5.98%
4 Tharu Indo-European 1,529,875 5.77%
5 Tamang Sino-Tibetan 1,353,311 5.11%
6 Nepal Bhasa (Newar) Sino-Tibetan 846,557 3.20%
7 Bajjika Indo-European 793,416 2.99%
8 Magar Sino-Tibetan 788,530 2.98%
9 Dotyali/Doteli Indo-European 787,827 2.97%
10 Urdu Indo-European 691,546 2.61%
11 Awadhi Indo-European 501,752 1.89%
12 Limbu Sino-Tibetan 343,603 1.30%
13 Gurung Sino-Tibetan 325,622 1.23%
14 Baitadeli Indo-European 272,524 1.03%
15 Rai (Kiranti) Sino-Tibetan 159,114 0.60%
16 Aachami Indo-European 142,787 0.54%
17 Bantawa (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 132,583 0.50%
18 Rajbanshi Indo-European 122,214 0.46%
19 Sherpa Sino-Tibetan 114,830 0.43%
20 Hindi Indo-European 77,569 0.29%
21 Chamling (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 76,800 0.29%
22 Bajhangi Indo-European 67,581 0.26%
23 Santhali Austro-Asiatic 49,858 0.19%
24 Chepang Sino-Tibetan 48,476 0.18%
25 Danuwar Indo-European 45,821 0.17%
26 Sunuwar Sino-Tibetan 37,898 0.14%
27 Magahi Indo-European 35,614 0.13%
28 Uranw/Kurux Dravidian 33,651 0.13%
29 Kulung (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 33,170 0.13%
30 Kham (Magar) Sino-Tibetan 27,113 0.10%
31 Rajasthani Indo-European 25,394 0.10%
32 Majhi Indo-European 24,422 0.09%
33 Thami Sino-Tibetan 23,151 0.09%
34 Bhujel Sino-Tibetan 21,715 0.08%
35 Bengali Indo-European 21,061 0.08%
36 Thulung (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 20,659 0.08%
37 Yakkha Sino-Tibetan 19,558 0.07%
38 Dhimal Sino-Tibetan 19,300 0.07%
39 Tajpuriya Indo-European 18,811 0.07%
40 Angika Indo-European 18,555 0.07%
41 Sampang (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 18,270 0.07%
42 Khaling (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 14,467 0.05%
43 Wambule (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 13,470 0.05%
44 Kumal Indo-European 12,222 0.05%
45 Darai Indo-European 11,677 0.04%
46 Bahing (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 11,658 0.04%
47 Bajureli Indo-European 10,704 0.04%
48 Hyolmo Sino-Tibetan 10,176 0.04%
49 Nachiring (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 10,041 0.04%
50 Yamphu (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 9,208 0.03%
51 Bote Indo-European 8,766 0.03%
52 Ghale Sino-Tibetan 8,092 0.03%
53 Dumi (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 7,638 0.03%
54 Lepcha Sino-Tibetan 7,499 0.03%
55 Puma (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 6,686 0.03%
56 Dungmali (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 6,260 0.02%
57 Darchuleli Indo-European 5,928 0.02%
58 Aathpariya (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 5,530 0.02%
59 Thakali Sino-Tibetan 5,242 0.02%
60 Jirel Sino-Tibetan 4,829 0.02%
61 Mewahang (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 4,650 0.02%
62 Sign Language − 4,476 0.02%
63 Tibetan Sino-Tibetan 4,445 0.02%
64 Meche Sino-Tibetan 4,375 0.02%
65 Chhantyal Sino-Tibetan 4,283 0.02%
66 Raji Sino-Tibetan 3,758 0.01%
67 Lohorung (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 3,716 0.01%
68 Chhintang (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 3,712 0.01%
69 Gangai Indo-European 3,612 0.01%
70 Pahari Sino-Tibetan 3,458 0.01%
71 Dailekhi Indo-European 3,102 0.01%
72 Lhopa Sino-Tibetan 3,029 0.01%
73 Dura Sino-Tibetan 2,156 0.01%
74 Koch Sino-Tibetan 2,080 0.01%
75 Chiling (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 2,046 0.01%
76 English Indo-European 2,045 0.01%
77 Jerung (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 1,763 0.01%
78 Khas Indo-European 1,747 0.01%
79 Sanskrit Indo-European 1,669 0.01%
80 Dolpali Indo-European 1,667 0.01%
81 Hayu Sino-Tibetan 1,520 0.01%
82 Tilung (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 1,424 0.01%
83 Koi (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 1,271 0.00%
84 Kisan Indo-European 1,178 0.00%
85 Waling (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 1,169 0.00%
86 Musalban Indo-European 1,075 0.00%
87 Hariyani/Haryanvi Indo-European 889 0.00%
88 Jumli Indo-European 851 0.00%
89 Lhomi Sino-Tibetan 808 0.00%
90 Punjabi Indo-European 808 0.00%
91 Belhare (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 599 0.00%
92 Odia Indo-European 584 0.00%
93 Sonaha Indo-European 579 0.00%
94 Sindhi Indo-European 518 0.00%
95 Dadeldhuri Indo-European 488 0.00%
96 Byangshi Sino-Tibetan 480 0.00%
97 Assamese Indo-European 476 0.00%
98 Raute Sino-Tibetan 461 0.00%
99 Saam (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 401 0.00%
100 Manange Sino-Tibetan 392 0.00%
101 Dhuleli Sino-Tibetan 347 0.00%
102 Phangduali (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 290 0.00%
103 Surel Sino-Tibetan 287 0.00%
104 Malpande Indo-European 247 0.00%
105 Chinese Sino-Tibetan 242 0.00%
106 Khariya Austro-Asiatic 238 0.00%
107 Kurmali Indo-European 227 0.00%
108 Baram Sino-Tibetan 155 0.00%
109 Lingkhim (Rai) Sino-Tibetan 129 0.00%
110 Sadhani Indo-European 122 0.00%
111 Kagate Sino-Tibetan 99 0.00%
112 Dzongkha Sino-Tibetan 80 0.00%
113 Bankariya Sino-Tibetan 69 0.00%
114 Kaike Sino-Tibetan 50 0.00%
115 Garhwali (Gadhawali) Indo-European 38 0.00%
116 French Indo-European 34 0.00%
117 Mizo Sino-Tibetan 32 0.00%
118 Kuki Sino-Tibetan 29 0.00%
119 Kusunda Language Isolate 28 0.00%
120 Russian Indo-European 17 0.00%
121 Spanish Indo-European 16 0.00%
122 Nagamese Sino-Tibetan 10 0.00%
123 Arabic Afro-Asiatic 8 0.00%
− Not reported − 47,718 0.18%
− Others − 21,173 0.08%
Total 26,494,504 100%
Second language speakers (2011 Census)
Language Count Percentage
Nepali 8,682,499 32.77%
Maithili 1,225,950 4.62%
Hindi 195, 287 0.73%
Bhojpuri 159,518 0.60%
Tharu 84,748 0.32%
English 81,447 0.30%
Bajjika 60,863 0.23%
Urdu 45,766 0.17%
Awadhi 45,428 0.17%
Magar 42,952 0.16%
Tamang 33,450 0.12%
Nepal Bhasa (Newar) 32,594 0.12%
Sanskrit 2,975 0.01%
Others 190,327 0.72%
Total 10,883,804 41.04%

Official languages[edit]

Main article: Languages with official status in Nepal
Government office with signage in Ranjana script, Devanagari and English.

Nepali in Devanagari script is the official working language in federal level. The constitution has provisioned provinces to choose one or more than one official language(s) besides Nepali.[2] According to the Language Commission of Nepal Maithili and Limbu are recommended to have official status in Province No. 1; Maithili, Bhojpuri and Bajjika in Province No. 2; Tamang and Nepal Bhasa in Bagmati Province; Magar and Gurung in Gandaki Province; Tharu and Awadhi in Lumbini Province; Nepali (Khas Bhasa)'s Karnali dialect and Magar in Karnali Province; Dotyali and Tharu in Sudurpashchim Province.[3]

Scripts[edit]

Most of the languages are found exclusively in oral form. According to the Language Commission, fifteen scripts are currently in use in Nepal,[3][13] including the following:

See also[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • Hale, Austin. 1973. Clause, sentence, and discourse patterns in selected languages of Nepal IV: word lists. SIL and Tribhuvan University Press (CLDF dataset on Zenodo doi:10.5281/zenodo.3537629)

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Official Summary of Census (2011)" (PDF). Nepal: Central Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "The Constitution of Nepal" (PDF). Nepal Law Commission. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b c "सरकारी कामकाजको भाषाका आधारहरूको निर्धारण तथा भाषासम्बन्धी सिफारिसहरू (पञ्चवर्षीय प्रतिवेदन- साराांश) २०७८" (PDF). Language Commission. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  4. ^ "नेपालको संविधानको प्रारम्भिक मस्यौदामा वर्ल्ड नेवाः अर्गनाइजेशनको सुझाव" [Organisation of the preliminary draft of Nepal's constitution] (PDF). Halin Newah. March 2016. p. 27. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  5. ^ "नेपालका सबै भाषाहरु नेपाली भाषा हुन्". Facebook. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  6. ^ "Constitution of Nepal, Part-1 Preliminary". Nepal Law Commission. Archived from the original on 15 September 2018.
  7. ^ Kansakar, Tej R. (Fall 1996). "Multilingualism and the Language Situation in Nepal" (PDF). Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area. 19 (2).
  8. ^ a b c "Population Monograph of Nepal Volume II (Social Demography)" (PDF).
  9. ^ Whitehouse, Paul; Usher, Timothy; Ruhlen, Merritt; Wang, William S.-Y. (13 April 2004). "Kusunda: An Indo-Pacific language in Nepal". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 101 (15): 5692–5695. Bibcode:2004PNAS..101.5692W. doi:10.1073/pnas.0400233101. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 397480. PMID 15056764.
  10. ^ Hurlbut, Hope M. (June 2012). A Lexicostatistic Survey of the Signed Languages in Nepal (PDF) (Report). SIL International. SIL Electronic Survey Report 2012-021.
  11. ^ "Part 1: Major highlights" (PDF). Central Bureau of Statistics. 2013. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2013.
  12. ^ "Six new languages added to the list of languages spoken in Nepal". Khabarhub. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  13. ^ Ganesh, Rai. "प्रदेशमा ११ भाषा सिफारिस". Kantipur Daily. Retrieved 29 October 2021. आयोगले १५ वटा लिपि प्रचलनमा रहेको जनाएको छ ।
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