Nepal Bhasa is one of the major language spoken in the capital of Nepal. It is the native language of Newa ethnicity.
Name[]
The term 'Nepal Bhasa' literally means 'the language of Nepal'. Its origin dates back to the period when the present day Kathmandu Valley and surrounding regions was known as 'Kathmandu'. A petty kingdom namely Gorkha, located in present day western Nepal invaded the kingdoms of Nepal. Nepal was a classical confederation of three kingdoms. The British India started referring to the Gorkhali state as 'Nepal' with its name of the capital, rather than 'Gorkha'. In 1934, the Gorkhali State officially decided to change its name as Nepal. While currently Nepal refers to a country in larger context, the indigenous population of still use the term 'Nepa Valley' or 'Nepal Valley'. Many older generation of people in rest of Nepal, still refer to Kathmandu as being 'Nepal'. Nepal Bhasa is the official name of the language, re-instated by the government in 1998 cabinet decision.
Newa[]
The term 'Newā' is colloquially prominent term. It emerges from the term 'Newāl' or 'Newār'. Linguistically, 'Newal' is a vulgarzied form of 'Nepal'. Similarly the 'L' and 'R' sounds are interchangeable - bringing up the term Nepal, Nepar, Newal, Newar into usage.
Language code[]
ISO 639-2 code for Nepal Bhasa is 'new'. Nationally assigned code for Nepal Bhasa is 'nb' or 'npbh' which is more prominent locally.
Phonology[]
Grammar[]
Orthography[]
Main article: Nepal Lipi
Nepal Bhasa is written with a set of scripts namely Nepal Lipi. Prachalit Nepal Script is most prominently used and also available in unicode. Ranjana Script follows the prominence. Other scripts are lesser in use.
Dialects[]
Nepal Bhasa has various dialectical variations, most of them being mutually intelligible. However some forms of Nepal Bhasa are not mutually intelligible.
Dwalkha[]
The Dwalkha dialect is spoken in the Old Dolakha or Dwalkha region of Dolakha district. It is not mutually intelligible with rest of Nepal Bhasa dialects. The Nepal Bhasa speakers migrated 700 years ago to the Dwalkha region and therefore their dialect got isolated and seperated from rest of the people, where Nepal Bhasa is majroly spoken around the Kathmandu Valley (Nepal Valley).
Evolution[]
Classical Nepal Bhasa[]
Main article: Classical Nepal Bhasa