81 Different Language Spoken in Nepal – Nepali Language is the First

What language do they speak in Kathmandu, Nepal

Nepal is the country where many languages are spoken, where many people of different caste, religion live. There are mutual understanding and harmony between the people living in one community. A community comprises of people of different caste, religion, language. Language is the medium of communicating and connecting with people. The diversity of language contributes to enriching the tradition and culture.

Language binds the good relationship between people. In Nepal, 192 languages are spoken and in Kathmandu, a capital city of Nepal people of different places live and they are of different caste, religion, and culture by which there is obviously the diversity in languages. I think you are so eager to know about the languages spoken in our capital city. We are here to give you ideas about the different languages spoken in Kathmandu.

What language do they speak in Kathmandu, Nepal

Nepal Bhasa (Newari);

Newari language is spoken as a native language by Newari community, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal, Kathmandu valley and other parts of Nepal. From 1952 to 1991, the percentage of the population speaking the Newari language in Kathmandu valley was dropped from 75% to 44% which shows that the Newari language was under threat. The Newari is spoken in different places of Kathmandu valley such as Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Madhyapur and Kathmandu municipalities. Newari has its own traditional script but it is written in Devanagari script for the convenience in writing and reading. It is written in Devanagari script. The script used, Nepalese script, which was disused in a the20th century when writing in the language and the script was banned. The dialects of Kritipur and Lalitpur are similar to Kathmandu.

As Newar people of Bhaktapur can understand the Kathmandu dialects despite some lexical differences. The eastern dialects are different with the dialects of Kathmandu valley. In Newari, there are some vocabulary differences between Hindu and Buddhist. According to 1991census, 10 to 15% Population was literate with Nepal Bhasa. Youth are more literate than old ones. It is mostly taught in primary and secondary schools, online sites, Institution and also by Tribhuwan University as the subject. It was one of the principal languages of Nepal, which was also the official language of the NewarMalla kings of the Kathmandu valley.

In that time, Kathmandu dialect was the most prestigious dialect with most published materials. Newari language is spoken by Newari people in small number. Nowadays, Youths of new generation assimilated and they speak the Nepali language instead of Newari language. So, for preserving the language and to make people know about the Newari language, many Tv programs, serials are broadcasted in Television. Also, the News is broadcasted in Newari language. In Kathmandu valley, Newari language is spoken by older people and they taught the language to their coming generation in order to preserve their sweet language.

As the Kathmandu metropolitan city is planning to make an arrangement for providing the various services in Nepali Bhasa in addition to the Nepali language. In many government offices and schools, it is planning to keep the Newari language. This decision won’t only make the service seekers easier as well to those people who find communicating Newari language easier than in the Nepali Language. This step of Kathmandu metropolitan city will also help to preserve the language and culture of Kathmandu valley. The metropolis is also planning to use Ranjana script for official purposes along with Devanagari script. Also, the Municipal executive body will execute all its powers to preserve the indigenous Newari language and will provide services to people of Kathmandu valley in their mother tongue.

Nepali;

Nepali language is the most spoken language in Nepal and it is also the official language of Nepal. Although, the Newar language is mostly spoken in Kathmandu valley Nepali is currently dominated.  Nepali is used in every governmental office, between local population as well. But the excessive use of Nepali language is being challenged by the government and courts of Nepal. Historically, the Nepali language was believed to have been originally called Khas language then it was called as Gorkhali language.

During Rana regime, in 1920, Nepal Bhasa was renamed into Newari and the Khas language was transformed into the Nepali language. According to the census of the year 2011, 44.6% of the population speaks Nepali as their first language. Nepali language in Devanagari script is used in governmental offices. People of different places are residing in Kathmandu and many of them speak Nepali. Newar people of Kathmandu valley also speak the Nepali language as a common language. They used Newari language at home and in few places. In an office, schools, public places of Kathmandu, Nepali language is spoken as a priority. Most of the advertising boards in Kathmandu valley are written in the Nepali language to make easier the understanding and communicating with people. In Kathmandu valley, Nepali language is spoken in wide spectrum among the people of different places and also among the indigenous population of Kathmandu.

Newar people of Kathmandu valley also speak the Nepali language as a common language. They used Newari language at home and in few places. In an office, schools, public places of Kathmandu, Nepali language is spoken as a priority. Most of the advertising boards in Kathmandu valley are written in the Nepali language to make easier the understanding and communicating with people. In Kathmandu valley, Nepali language is spoken in wide spectrum among the people of different places and also among the indigenous population of Kathmandu.

Along with these two languages, other languages such as English, Tharu, Bhojpuri, Gurung, Magar, are also spoken among a small population. Kathmandu is the tourist place by which every year many foreigners visit the place. So, as being the most visited place by a foreigner, there also English speaking few population. For people of different places of Nepal, Kathmandu is the place of fulfilling the dream. Many students of different places of Nepal are studying in Kathmandu, many youths are working in many offices, hotels, bars, stations of Kathmandu valley.

So, there are many languages such as Tharu, Avadhi, Nagar, Tamang is spoken among the people of small population. In spite of living together in the same place, there is mutual understanding, harmony among the people of Kathmandu valley. But to preserve the Newari language, people of Kathmandu valley make a movement to make the Newari language as the official language of Kathmandu valley. Newari is so concerned about preserving their language but for these Newar people themselves must be active to make preserve the Newari language. Language is also a medium to reflect the culture. so, we must move forward to preserve our culture and language.

List of 81 Language of Nepal

Table reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Nepal

Most of them are still spoken by the people in different parts of Nepal but some of them are being rarely spoken. Since languages are the identity of their castes and ethnic group, it needs to be protected. Language needs to be handed from generation to generation to make it alive.

Otherwise, the new generation may not know how to speak their original ethnic language and it will extinct. The Nepal government has taken some of the steps like publishing the books in their language, making the academic course in their languages in some of the parts of the country. The national newspaper Gorkhapatra is publishing the article about different language in their own language which is the very good step to protect this language from being extinct.

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What language do they speak in Kathmandu?
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81 Different Language Spoken in Nepal