Languages of Nepal

(wikipedia.org)
Updated: 2009-08-21 10:22

Nepal's diverse linguistic heritage evolved from four major language groups: Indo-Aryan, Tibeto-Burman, Mongolian and various indigenous language isolates.

According to the 2001 national census, 92 different living languages are spoken in Nepal.

The major languages of Nepal (percent spoken as mother tongue) are Nepali (57%)(2007), Maithili (10%), Bhojpuri (7%), Tharu (4%), Tamang (5%), Newari/Nepal Bhasa (3%), Magar (2%), Awadhi (2%), Rai (2.79%), Limbu (1%), and Bajjika (1%). The remaining 81 languages are each spoken as mother tongue by less than one percent of the population.

Nepal's constitution, however, guarantees that, irrespective of what the official language is, all languages spoken in Nepal can be used for official purposes and documentation.

Derived from Sanskrit, Nepali is considered the language closest to Sanskrit and written in Devanagari script. Nepali is the official, national language and serves as lingua franca among Nepalis of different ethnolinguistic groups.

Hindi - along with regional dialects Awadhi, Bhojpuri and Maithili - are spoken in the southern Terai Region. Hindi is also widely understood by Nepalis who have worked, studied or traveled in India.

Many Nepali in government and business speak English as well. In the capital Kathmandu, Nepali, Nepal Bhasa (the Newar language) and English are the most widely understood languages.