Back Newari Afrikaans ኔፓል ባሳ Amharic Nepal Bhasa ANG اللغة النيوارية Arabic النيواريه ARZ नेपालभाषा AWA Nevar dili Azerbaijani Неварская мова Byelorussian Нэварская мова BE-X-OLD नेपाल भाषा Bihari
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| Newar | |
|---|---|
| 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑐮 𑐨𑐵𑐳𑐵, Nepal Bhasa | |
| 𑐣𑐾𑐰𑐵𑑅 𑐨𑐵𑐫𑑂, Nevāh Bhāy | |
 "Nepal Bhasa" written in the Ranjana script and the Prachalit Nepal script | |
| Pronunciation | [newaː bʱæː] |
| Native to | Nepal |
| Region | Nepal Mandala |
| Ethnicity | 1.3 million Newars (2021 census)[1] |
Native speakers | 880,000 (2021 census)[1] |
Early form | |
| Dialects |
|
| Ranjana script, Pracalit script, Bhujimol script, Devanagari and various Nepalese scripts | |
| Official status | |
Official language in |  India
|
| Regulated by | Nepal Bhasa Academy |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-2 | new Nepal Bhasa, Newari |
| ISO 639-3 | Variously:new – Newarinwx – Middle Newarphj – Pahari Newar |
new Newari | |
nwx Middle Newar | |
| Glottolog | newa1247 |
 Language map of Nepal (including Newar): red = Newar language is the majority spoken language red with yellow stripes = Newar language is spoken along with Pahari language | |
Newar (English: /nəˈwɑːr/),[2] known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa,[3] is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding regions in Nepal. The term "Newari" is also used to refer to the language, although it is considered to be a derogatory term by some Newar speakers.[4][5]
The language served as the official language of Nepal during the Malla dynasty since the 14th century till the end of dynasty in 1769, during which the language was known as "Nepala Bhasa", a Sanskrit term which translates to "Nepalese Language".[6][7] However, the language is not the same as Nepali, an Indo-Aryan language and the current offical language of Nepal, which only got the name Nepali in the 1930s.[8]
From the start of the Rana dynasty until democratisation, Newar suffered from official suppression.[9] From 1952 to 1991, the percentage of Newar speakers in the Kathmandu Valley dropped from 75% to 44%[10] and today Newar culture and language are under threat.[11] The language has been listed as being "Definitely endangered language" by UNESCO.[12]
On 6 May 2024, Newar, along with Tamang and Nepali was declared as the offical language of Bagmati Province.[13] Similarly, Newar is given official status in several city governments of Nepal including Kathmandu.[14]
- ^ a b Newar at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
Middle Newar at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
Pahari Newar at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
- ^ "Newar". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
- ^ Maharjan, Resha (2018). The Journey of Nepal Bhasa: From Decline to Revitalization (M.Phil. thesis). UIT The Arctic University of Norway.
- ^ Tuladhar-Douglas 2007, p. 25: "The Newars themselves, some of whom find the term ‘Newar’ to be an oppressive reminder of their colonization by the Gorkhas in the 18th century."
- ^ Genetti 2007, p. 10: "some people in the Newar community, including some prominent Newar linguists, consider the derivational suffix -i found in the term Newari to constitute an 'Indianization' of the language name. These people thus hold the opinion that the term Newari is non-respectful of Newar culture."
- ^ Tuladhar 2000, p. 9.
- ^ Regmi, DR (2007). Medieval Nepal Part II. New Delhi, India: Rupa and Co. p. 338. ISBN 978-8129110985.
- ^ Burghart, Richard (1984). "The Formation of the Concept of Nation-State in Nepal". The Journal of Asian Studies. 44 (1): 101–125. doi:10.2307/2056748. ISSN 0021-9118.
- ^ Tumbahang, Govinda Bahadur (2010). "Marginalization of Indigenous Languages of Nepal" (PDF). Contributions to Nepalese Studies. 37 (1): 73–74. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
- ^ Malla, Kamal P. "The Occupation of the Kathmandu Valley and its Fallout". p. 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 January 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2014.
- ^ Grandin, Ingemar. "Between the market and Comrade Mao: Newar cultural activism and ethnic/political movements (Nepal)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "UNESCO Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger". Retrieved 13 November 2013.
- ^ "Nepali, Tamang, Nepal Bhasha official languages of Bagmati". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Nepal Bhasa as official language in metropolis". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
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