Nepal Bhasa

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Nepāl Bhāṣā नेपाल भाषा
Spoken in:	Nepal, India, Bhutan
Region:	South Asia
Total speakers:	1 million approx.
Language family:	Sino-Tibetan  Tibeto-Burman   Himalayish    Nepāl Bhāṣā
Writing system:	Devanagari script, Ranjana script, Prachalit script, Brahmi script, Gupta script, Bhujimol script, Golmol script
Language codes
ISO 639-1:	none
ISO 639-2:	new
ISO 639-3:	new
Note: This page may contain IPA phonetic symbols in Unicode. See IPA chart for English for an English-​based pronunciation key.

Nepal Bhasa (नेपाल भाषा, also known as Newah Bhaye and Newari) is one of the major languages of Nepal. It is one of the roughly five hundred Sino-Tibetan languages in the world, and belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch of this family. It is the only Tibeto-Burman language to be written in the Devanāgarī script. It is spoken mainly by the Newars (and may be referred to as Newari), who chiefly inhabit the towns of the Kathmandu Valley. Although Nepal Bhasa is classified as a Sino-Tibetan language, it shows resemblances with Indo-Iranian languages as well.

Contents 1 Geographic Distribution 2 History and Development 3 Dialects 3.1 Dolkhali (Dolakha) 3.2 Sindhupalchowk Pahri (Pahri, Pahari) 3.3 Totali 3.4 Chitlang 3.5 Kathmandu-Patan-Kirtipur 3.6 Bhaktapur 3.7 Baglung 4 Sounds 5 Writing Systems and Grammar 5.1 Vowels 5.2 Consonants 5.3 Complex / Compound Consonants 5.4 Numericals 6 Literature 6.1 Drama 6.2 Poetry 6.3 Prose Fiction 6.3.1 Story 7 Nepal Bhasa and Newar community 8 Some common phrases and terms 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Geographic Distribution

The language is spoken by roughly around a million people in Nepal according to 2001 census. Plus a few thousands outside Nepal speak the language.

• In Nepal: Kathmandu valley i.e. (Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Lalitpur Sub Metropolitan City, Bhaktapur Municipality, Kirtipur Municipality, Thimi Municipality), Dolakha, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Bhimphedi (Makwanpur), Panauti, Palpa, Trishuli, Nuwakot, Bhojpur, Biratnagar, Baglung, Bandipur, Birgunj, Hetaunda and other chief cities.
• In India: Sikkim, West Bengal, Bettiah, Andamans^[1]
• In Tibet: Khasa

With an increase in emigration, various bodies and societies of Nepal Bhasa speaking people have emerged in nations like US, UK and Japan.

[edit] History and Development

Little is known about the origins of Nepal Bhasa except for the fact that the language has evolved with continued influences from Tibetan, Kirati, Maithali, Pali, Sanskrit, Khas, Hindi and other languages of the region. The language largely replaced Sanskrit as the official language of medieval Nepal as the language used in the shilalekh or stone scripture.

The earliest known (dated) document in Nepal Bhasa is called "The Palmleaf from Uku Bahal" which dates back to 1114AD (235 NS) ^[2]. A few lines from the script read^[3]:

छीन ढाको तृसंघष परिभोग। छु पुलेंग कीत्य बिपार वस्त्र बिवु मिखा तिवु मदुगुन छु सात दुगुनव ल्है।

which is a general discussion about business and trasactions.

The language continued growing in the Medieval era and even the kings were involved in writing poetry, dramas etc in the language. Noted royal writers were Mahindra Malla, Siddhinarsingh Malla, Jagatprakash Malla etc. An example of the lanugage used in that era is provided from lines of Mooldevshashidev written by Jagatprakash Malla^[4]

धु छेगुकि पाछाव वाहान

तिलहित बिया हिङ लाहाति थाय थायस

which is a description of Shiva, about the use of the skin of tiger as the seat of Shiva.

The language faced a setback with the arrival of Shah dynasty. The language was replaced by Khas language as the national language and the Khas language was renamed Nepali. Some speculate that the language has been called Newari instead of Nepal Bhasa after the Khas rule, as no evidence of the language being called as Newari has been found before this era.

A very well noted poet of Nepal Bhasa called Siddhidas Mahaju(N.S.987-N.S.1050) arose in these "dark era" of Nepal Bhasa. He translated Ramayana into Nepal Bhasa and wrote several poems with strong support towards ethics and morality. Some of his lines read

सज्जन मनुष्या संगतनं मूर्ख नापं भिना वै

पलेला लपते ल वंसा म्वति थें ल सना वै

which state that even a moron can improve with the company of good people just like even a waterdrop appears like a pearl when it descends upon the leaves of a lotus plant.

Nepal Bhasa has undergone several changes over the years and has been classified into old era and new era language. Although there is no specific demarkation between the two, mid-Rana regime of Nepal i.e. around 966 to 1061 N.S. is taken as the period of demarkation between the two ^[5].

Modern Nepal Bhasa is the most Indianized of the Tibeto-Burman languages. It has had so many centuries of contact with neighboring Indo-Iranian languages that it has even developed noun inflection (a trait typical of the Indo-European family but extremely rare in Sino-Tibetan languages). It has absorbed other features of grammar as well, such as verb tenses. One of the earliest grammars of modern Nepal Bhasa, written by Shukraraj Shastri accepts the large influence of "Aryan" languages in Nepal Bhasa ^[6]. These influences are outstanding examples of fundamental traits of a language being passed on through language contact.

A lot of writers and thinkers have contributed to the modern form of Nepal Bhasa. These include Chittadhar "Hridaya", Jagatsundar Malla etc.. With efforts from concerned people and organizations, Nepal Bhasa has several newspapers, a primary level curriculum, several F.M. stations (selected time for Nepal Bhasa programs), regular TV programs and News (in Image TV Channel), Nepal Bhasa Music Award (a part of Image Award), several websites and Nepal Bhasa wikipedia.

[edit] Dialects

The main dialects are ^[7]:-

[edit] Dolkhali (Dolakha)

This is the most preserved form of language and resembles the old Nepal Bhasa.

[edit] Sindhupalchowk Pahri (Pahri, Pahari)

This dialect is the most different from the other dialects. Some even consider it to be a separate language.

[edit] Totali

[edit] Chitlang

Chitlang is a place south of Kathmandu valley in Makawanpur district. This form of language, although not used much presently, serves to understand the evolution of Nepal Bhasa.

[edit] Kathmandu-Patan-Kirtipur

Also known as Yen-Yala-Kyepu Bhaaye (ञ - यल - क्येपु भाय्), this is the most dominant form of language. It is the most evolved form of language and is very close to the standard form of language used in academics and media. This is also the most widely used dialect. Variations are seen in the use of the words, specially nouns, amongst the Buddhists and Hindus.

[edit] Bhaktapur

Also known as Khwapa Bhaaye (ख्वप: भाय्), this form of language is more close to the old form than the standard form. Variations exist in the use of this form of language in Bhaktapur, Banepa, Panauti and Dhulikhel.

[edit] Baglung

In addition to these dialects, there are few sub-dialects spoken in Kathmandu valley and other parts of Nepal. These sub-dialects are spoken in surrounding villages of Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur, Chitlang and Dolakha. The dialect spoken in Bandipur is the oldest form of Khwapa Bhaaye. The dialect spoken in Chainpur, Bhojpur, Terathum, Palapa is related to Kathmandu and Patan. The dialect spoken in Ridi, Baglung, Arughat is closer to Bhaktapur.

[edit] Sounds

The sounds are traditionally listed in the order vowels, diphthongs, anusvara and visarga, stops and nasals (starting in the back of the mouth and moving forward), and finally the liquids and fricatives, written in IAST as follows (see the tables below for details):

a ā i ī u ū ṛ ṝ ḷ ḹ ; e ai o au

ṃ ḥ

k kh g gh ṅ; c ch j jh ñ; ṭ ṭh ḍ ḍh ṇ; t th d dh n; p ph b bh m

y r l v; ś ṣ s h

[edit] Writing Systems and Grammar

Main article: Writing System in Nepal Bhasa

Main article: Nepal Bhasa Grammar

Nepal Bhasa has been written in a variety of abugida scripts. The scripts which have been used to write this language are-

• Brahmi script
• Gupta script
• Prachalit script
• Ranjana script
• Bhujimol
• Devnagari script

Over the centuries, Nepal Bhasa has been written in many scripts, all of which are descended from the Brahmi script. All the scripts proceed from left to right, and include two separate sets of characters - a vowel set and a consonant set. Devanagari is the most widely-used script at the present, as it is the official script of Nepal as well as is used widely in neighbouring India. Ranjana script was the most widely-used script for Nepal Bhasa in ancient times, and is experiencing a sort of a revival due to recent cultural awareness. The Prachalit script, being similar to Devanagari, is also in use. The Brahmi and Golmol scripts are rarely used in present.

In overall writing system of Nepal Bhasa, there are four form of alphabets:

• Vowels called Ma Akha
• Consonants called Ba Akha
• Complex consonants called China Akha
• Numericals called Lyaa Akha

[edit] Vowels

The vowels, called MaAkha (माआखः) used in Nepal Bhasa are

Orthography	अ	आ	इ	ई	उ	ऊ	ए	ऐ	ओ	औ	अं	अः	ऋ	ॠ	ऌ	ॡ
Roman	a	aa	i	ii	u	uu	e	ai	o	au	am	aha	ru	Ru	lru	lRuu
IPA	/ə/	/ɑː/	/i/	/iː/	/u/	/uː/	/eː/	/əi/	/oː/	/əu/	/əⁿ/	/əʰ/	/ru/	/ruː/	/lru/	/lruː/

It is worthy to note that even though ऋ, ॠ, ऌ, ॡ are present in Nepal Bhasa, they are rarely used. Instead, some of the experts are suggesting to include अय्(aya)and आय्(aaya) in the list of vowels ^[8].

[edit] Consonants

The consonants, called BaAkha(बाआखः), used in Nepal Bhasa are:

क	ख	ग	घ	ङ
k /k/	kha /kʰ/	g /g/	gh /gʰ/	gh /ŋ/
च	छ	ज	झ	ञ
ch /cɕ/ or /ts/	chh /cɕʰ/	j or z /ɟʝ/ or /z/	jh or zh /ɟʝʰ/ or /zʰ/	tra /ɲ/
ट	ठ	ड	ढ	ण
t /ʈ/	th /ʈʰ/	d /ɖ/	dh /ɖʰ/	n /ɳ/
त	थ	द	ध	न
t /t̪/	th /t̪ʰ/	d /d̪/	dh /d̪ʰ/	n /n̪/
प	फ	ब	भ	म
p /p/	f /f/	b /b/	bh /bʰ/	m /m/
य	र	ल	व
y /j/	r /r/	l /l/	v /v/
श	ष	स	ह
sh /ʃ/	sh /ʃ/	s /s/	h /h/
क्ष	त्र	ज्ञ
l /ɭ/	ksh /kʃ/	dny /d̪n/

The use of ङ and ञ was very common in the old form of language. However, in the new form, specially in written, the use of these characters has diminished. The use of ण, त, थ, द, ध, न, श, ष, क्ष, त्र, ज्ञ are limited by the new Grammar books to the loan words only.

[edit] Complex / Compound Consonants

Besides the consonants mentioned above, some complex consonants called China Akha (चिना आखः) are also used. These China Akha represent the Sino-Tibetan characteristics of the lanugage. The most used of these complex consonants which are counted as an individual alphabets by some are ^[9]:

• न्ह
• म्ह
• ल्ह
• ह्र

[edit] Numericals

The numericals used in Nepal Bhasa have ten digits from 0-9. The numericals used in Ranjana script are as follows (from 0 to 9)

The same numericals in Devnagari are:

In Devanāgarī

०	१	२	३	४	५	६	७	८	९
0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

The earliest form of written grammar were developed by Shukraj Shastri and Nisthananda Bajracharya. Shukraraj Shastri's grammar is very similar to Sanskrit. He had studied Sanskrit, English and Hindi grammar^[10] before creating his masterpiece called Nepal Bhasa Wyakarana which is based largely on Sanskrit but with great study of Nepal Bhasa as well.

[edit] Literature

Main article: Nepal Bhasa literature

Nepal Bhasa literature has a long history. It has the fourth-oldest literature of the Sino-Tibetan languages (the first, second and third being Chinese, Tibetan and Burmese respectively).

[edit] Drama

Dramas are traditionally performed in open Dabu (stage). Most of the traditional dramas are related to deities and demons. Masked characters are central to such dramas. Music forms an important part of drama. Most of them are narrated with the help of songs sang at intervals. The drama as such resembles dance in many cases. The theme of most of the drama is to create a social wellbeing with morals illustrating the rise, turbulence and fall of evil. There are fixed dates in the Nepal Sambat (Nepal Era) calendar for performance of specific drama. Most of the dramas are carried out by specific Guthis.

[edit] Poetry

Poetry writing constituted a pompous part of medieval Malla aristrocracy. Many of the kings were well renowned poets. Siddhidas Mahaju and Chittadhar Hridaya are two great poets in the language.

[edit] Prose Fiction

This is a relatively new field of literature compared to other fields. Most of the fiction were written in poetry form till the medieval era. So, almost all of prose fiction belong to the modern Nepal Bhasa. Collective short stories in Nepal Bhasa are more popular than novels.

[edit] Story

The art of verbal story telling is very old in Nepal Bhasa. There are a variety of mythical and social stories that have aided in establishing the norm of Kathmandu valley. Stories ranging from the origin of Kathmandu valley to the temples of the valley and the important monuments have been passed down verbally in Nepal Bhasa and very few are present in written form. However, with an increase in literacy rate and an awareness amongst the people, those stories have been penned down. Stories on other topics have also taken root.

[edit] Nepal Bhasa and Newar community

Nepal Bhasa is the mother tongue of Newars. Newars are a very diverse community with people from Mongolian, Aryan and according to some even Dravidian races, following Hinduism and Buddhism, and subdivided into 64 castes. So, the language has played a central role in the existence and perpetuation of Newar community. Poet Siddhidas Mahaju had concluded that the Newar community and its rich culture can only survive if Nepal Bhasa survives (भाषा म्वासा जाति म्वाइ).

The language has faced a decline in Shah era after this lanugage was replaced by Khas Kura (later renamed Nepali) as the national language and after the introduction of "One Nation, one language" by King Mahendra. Besides, the then Royal Nepalese Government had spent a lot in Sanskrit education and a Sanskrit University was approved during those times (Sanskrit is virtually not spoken by anyone in Nepal) because Khas Kura originated from Sanskrit. However, there were very few resources for even primary level education in Nepal Bhasa. Plus, there were no programs of Nepal Bhasa in the state radio i.e. Radio Nepal. Even after programs in Nepal Bhasa were started, the language was addressed as "Newari", a term considered derogaroty by Newars. Even today, there are no programs in Nepal Bhasa in the state television i.e. Nepal Television, whereas it broadcasts a Bollywood Hindi movie (Hindi is not used as mother tongue in Nepal, although it is used as lingua franca in Terai) every Saturday and often Pakistani serials as well. The Supreme Court of Nepal has also banned any use of Nepal Bhasa even for trivial matters in official purposes of any part of Nepal. These factors have led to a resentment among Newar community and a feeling of "second class" citizen in one's own state. This fact has been used for political advantages by many parties of Nepal. Many slogans are translated into Nepal Bhasa, although very few important documents of political parties are ever translated into Nepal Bhasa.

[edit] Some common phrases and terms

English	Devanagari	Roman script
Hello	ज्वजलपा	Jwajalapa
What is your name?	छिगु नां छु खः ?	Chhigu naa chhu kha?
My name is ___	जिगु नां ___ ख:	Jigu naa___ kha
Happy New Year	न्हूदँया भितुना	Nhugu dan yaa bhintunaa
Mother	मां	Maa
Father	अबु	Abu
Grandmother	अजी	Ajee
Grandfather	अजा	Ajaa
Friend	पासा	Paasaa
Organization	गुठी	Guthi
House	छें	Chhen
Person	मनु	Manu
Medicine	वास	Waasa
News	बुखं	Bukhan
Dance	प्याखं	Pyakhan
Stage	दबली / दबू	Dabalee / Daboo
Palace	लायकू	Layaku
Office	ज्यास	Jyaasa
Shop	पस:	Pasa/Pasal
Courtyard	चूक	Chooka
Brain	न्ह्यपु	Nhepu
Heart	नुगः	Nugah
Water	लः / ना	Lah / Naa
I don't understand Nepal Bhasa	जित नेपाल भाषा मवः	Jita Nepal Bhasa mawa

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Ethnologue
• Nepalese Supreme leader (सर्वमान्य नेता) Late Ganesh Man Singh's speech in Nepal Bhasa
• Michael Noonan, Recent Language Contact in the Nepal Himalaya (PDF).
• [1], http://www.jwajalapa.com ज्वजलपा डट कम a window to Newar culture
• [2]
• Newari/Ranjana script page on Omniglot
• Proposal for encoding Newari in Unicode
• Sandhya Times, Nepal Bhasa daily newspaper
• Online Nepal Bhasa dictionary