About the Nepali Language

In which countries is the Nepali language spoken?

Nepali is spoken mainly in Nepal and parts of India including Sikkim, Assam, West Bengal, Darjeeling district of West Bengal, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Sambalpur, Odisha, Bihar and South Delhi. It is also spoken in Bhutan and Myanmar.

What is the history of the Nepali language?

The history of the Nepali language can be traced back to the 12th century with its earliest written texts found in Hindu scriptures. It is part of the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family and is closely related to other languages such as Hindi, Marathi and Bengali. Nepali was initially born in the Nepalese region of India, then known as ‘Kotir’ or ‘Gorkhapatra’, and began to spread to other parts of the subcontinent in the late 19th century.
During the 19th century, many Gurkhas travelled and settled in several regions of the Indian subcontinent, bringing their language, Nepali, with them. Afterwards, the language was adopted by the British Raj and was one of the official languages of colonial India. After Nepal’s independence from Britain in 1947, the Nepalese government chose to adopt Nepali as the official language and during the mid-20th century, it began to spread throughout the country.
Nepali is currently spoken by an estimated 16 million people as their native language, primarily in Nepal and parts of India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar. Hundreds of newspapers are published in the language and it is also used as the official language of various regional governments in Nepal.

Who are the top 5 people who have contributed the most to the Nepali language?

1. Bhanubhakta Acharya: A poet who wrote the first epic poem in Nepali, and was largely responsible for the development of the Nepali language.
2. Bishweshwor Prasad Koirala: A former Prime Minister of Nepal who played a major role in the transformation of Nepal into a democratic republic. He also wrote poetry and other works in Nepali.
3. Laxmi Prasad Devkota: A poet, playwright and novelist who wrote mainly in the Nepali language. He is considered to be the most influential figure in the history of Nepali literature.
4. Manohar Shrestha: A journalist who worked diligently to spread the Nepali language around the world. He also authored several books in Nepali.
5. Dharma Ratna Yami: A poet, playwright, and novelist who wrote some of the greatest works in the Nepali language. He is often called the ‘father of modern Nepali literature.’

How is the structure of the Nepali language?

The structure of the Nepali language is quite similar to other Indo-Aryan languages. It follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) word order, meaning that the subject comes first, followed by the object and then the verb. It has a rich agglutinative morphology and functions similarly to other South Asian languages such as Hindi and Bengali. This morphological richness is seen in many aspects of Nepali language: verb conjugations, tenses, nouns, and pronouns. Additionally, Nepali has several distinct dialects ranging from those spoken in the hills and mountains to the Terai plains.

How to learn the Nepali language in the most correct way?

1. Take a Nepali language course: Taking a Nepali language course is one of the best ways to learn the language in the most correct way. With the help of professional instructors, you will have a clear grasp of the basic rules and usage of the language.
2. Use online/mobile apps to practice: There are many online/mobile apps available that can help you to practice your Nepali language skills. These apps offer various features such as interactive quizzes, audio-visual lessons, flashcards and more which can help you to improve your comprehension of the language.
3. Watch Nepali movies and shows: Another great way to learn the language is to watch Nepali movies and shows. This provides you with a great way to immerse yourself in the language and culture. Not only will this help to improve your comprehension but also help you learn new words and expressions.
4. Read & write in Nepali: Reading and writing in Nepali is an essential activity as it gives you an opportunity to get an idea of the structure of the language and its grammar rules. You can start off by reading newspapers, magazines and books in Nepali.
5. Practice speaking Nepali: Despite all the other activities, practice speaking Nepali is the key to mastering the language. Make sure to talk to native speakers and try out conversations with them. You can also join online language exchange forums which are a great way to gain exposure to the language.