1. Language Policy in Nepal: Some Observations
Mr Bhim Lal Gautam
Lecturer
Central Department of Linguistics, TU
Vice-President
Linguistic Society of Nepal

2. Outline Introduction Linguistic/Cultural Diversity of Nepal
Constitutional Provision
National Language Recommendation Commission 1993
Existing Language/Educational Policies & Activities
Problems
Conclusion(Suggestions/recommendations)

3. Introduction
Nepal:Area-147,181 square KM(Topographical heterogeneity: Terai- Mt.Everest)
Population:26,621,000(2011 census)
Literacy Rate:65.9% (2011 census)
Ethnic Groups & Castes: More than officially recognized (Mountains ,Hills & Terai Regions)
Natural & Cultural diversity

4. Linguistic/Cultural Diversity
Ethnic Groups: More than 100(2011 census)
Terai: Tharu,Yadava,Teli,Mushahar,Dhanuk,Kanu, Dhobi,Kurmi,Marwari,Gangai,Halwai,
Dhimal,Sikha,Muslim and so on.
Hilly Region:
Brahman,Chhetri,Magar,Gurung,Newar,
Tamang,Kami,Damai,Thakuri,Kumal,Majhi,
Lepcha,Gaine,Badi,Thakali,Limbu,Chepang and so on.
Mountaineous Region:
Sherpa,Lohmi,Loha,Manange,Bhuike and so on.

5. Languages 124 plus languages(2011 census)
120 living languages and 4 listed only(Ethnologue 2012)
Four Major Language Families
Four different sign languages
Language isolate Kusunda
ISO listing

6. Indo-Aryan Languages(29)
Nepali,Maithili,Bhojpuri,Awadhi,Tharu, Rajbansi,Kumal,Bote,Majhi,Danuwar,Darai, Angika,Marwari,Bengali,Hindi,Urdu,Jumli, Dailekhi,Dadheldhuri,Bajureli,Darchureli, Gadh awali etc.

7. Tibeto-Burman Languages(86)
Tamang,Sherpa,Gurung,Thakali,Magar,Byansi,Limbu,Bantawa,Dolpo,Newar,Jirel,Kagate,Lhomi,Lhorung,Puma,Chintang,Kulung,Athparia,Bahing,Baram,Chamling,Chantyal,Chhulung,Dumi,Dhimal,Ghale,Kaike,Bhujel,Khaling,Kham,Lepcha,Manangba,Meche,Mugali,Narphu,Nubri,Raji,sampang and so on.

8. Austro-Asiatic(3) Dravidian(1): Santhali, Khadiya,Munda/Mundari
Jhagadh/Kurukh
Language Isolate:
Kusunda (Watters etal.2005)
Sign Languages:
Nepali Sign Language
Jhankot Sign Language
Jumla Sign Language
Ghandruk Sign Language

9. Languages With Written Tradition
Nepali,Sanskrit,Maithili,Bhojpuri,Awadhi,Newari,Tamang,Sherpa,Limbu,Urdu,Panjabi,Gurung,
Bangali
Common script for Nepali and most of the undescribed languages: Devanagari
Magar:Akhha,Maithili:Tirahuta/Kaithi/Mithilkchhyar,Tibettan/Sherpa:Sambota,Tamang:Tamahing,
Punjabi:Gurumukhi,Urdu:Arabi,Lepcha:Rong,
Limbu:Sirijanga,Newari:Ranjana,Santha li/Gurung:Roman,Bangali:Bangla

10. Constitutional Provision(Interim Constitution of Nepal 2007)
Article 5. Language of the nation:
(1) All the languages spoken as the mother tongue in Nepal are the national languages of Nepal.
(2) The Nepali language in Devanagari script shall be the official language.
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in clause, it shall not be deemed to have hindered to use the mother tongue in local bodies and offices. The state shall translate the languages so used to an official working language and maintain record thereon.

11. Article 17. Education and Cultural Right:
(1) Each community shall have the right to get basic education in their mother tongue as provided for in the law.
(2) Every citizen shall have the right to free education from the State up to secondary level as provided for in the law.
(3) Each community residing in Nepal shall have the right to preserve and promote its language, script, culture, cultural civility and heritage.

12. National Languages Policy Recommendation Commission (1993)
A linguistic survey of Nepal should be done to identify and describe the languages of Nepal
A Proper Language Planning should be started
Special Programme should be started to preserve endangered languages of Nepal
A council for national languages should be established
The primary schools should be categorized as with 100% mother tongue speakers to teach in mother tongues
Department of Linguistics should be established in the university to promote the study and research works
Mother tongue should be allowed as an alternative to
Sanskrit in Lower middle class

13. National Languages Policy Recommendation Commission (1993)
There should be special department of language at the Royal Nepal Academy and all the academic organizations working with the national languages should get recognition
There should be a separate branch at CDC of HMG to deal with the matters of education in the mother tongue
In order to make the linguistic data of CBS more reliable, linguist should also be included as experts

14. Existing Language/Educational Activities
The Workshop on Multilingual Education (February 1-3, 2008)
 This residential workshop conducted by Tove Shutnabba-Kangas, an eminent author of Linguistic Genocide in Education – or Worldwide Diversity and Human Rights? The objective was to prepare the concept paper on multilingual education in Nepal.

15. Nepal Multilingual Education (MLE) Symposium
Sponsored by Ministry of Education and Sports, Tribhuvan University , UNESCO and SIL International(October 1-3, 2007) Kathmandu to address the various issues of MLE:
The MLE Symposium recommended that multilingual education be implemented for the sake of children and their future with the Ministry of Education and Sports reaffirming its commitment to MLE.

16. Multilingual Education Implementation Guideline(MEIG) 2010
Levels
Medium of instruction
Further clarification
Basic
Pre-primary
Local mother tongue
For all subjects
1-3
For all subjects except
Nepali and English
4-5
Bilingual(Mother tongue and language of official use)
6-8
Bilingual(Mother tongue and language of official use or other tongue)
For all subjects except Nepali and English
Non-Formal Education
Literacy
Post Literacy
Local mother tongue or
education contact language or both

17. Implementation of Mother Tongue as Medium of Instruction
Districts
Language/s
Schools
Grades
Sunsari
Uraw and Tharu
(Eastern)
Sarada Primary School,Simariya
1-3
Jhapa
Santhali and Rajbansi
Rastriya Ekta Primary School,Kajali
Dhankuta
Athparia Rai
Deurali Lower Secondary School,Sangtang
Palpa
Palpa Magar
Nawa jagrit Primary School,Dhaireni
Rasuwa
Rasuwa Tamang
1.Saraswati Primary School,Thade
2.Bhimsen Primary School,Thulokharka
Kanchanpur
Rana(Tharu)
Rastriya Primary School,Dekhtabhuli

18. Curriculum Development Centre (Production of textbooks )SN
LANGUAGES
GRADES 1 2 3 4 5
Maithili, Bhojapuri, Awadhi, Tamang, Limbu, Bantawa Rai,
Chamling Rai, Sherpa, Gurung, Magar, Newar, Tharu
Sunuwar, Rajbanshi
Yakkha
Mugali
Tharu (Mid-region) and Tamang ( in Sambota script)
1-5
1-4
1-3
1-2

19. Central Department of Linguistics/Linguistic Survey of Nepal(2008)
To produce a sociolinguistic profile including language and dialect mapping;
To produce a basic description of at least ten languages;
To develop and maintain a complete database of the languages of Nepal;
To develop a description of the use of mother tongues in education (formal and non-formal);
To publish the report of the major research activities in written and electronic versions

20. LinSuN Progress
The pilot survey was conducted in Jhapa in the month of April, The research tools were revised with the help of feedbacks of the pilot survey.
In 2009, Nepali (spoken mid and western hilly regions), Newar (spoken in the valley), Maithili, Chepang, Kirat-Rai and Bote languages were surveyed and data were entered in the database developed in the LinSuN.
A series of workshops and training programs were organized to build the technical capacities of the research assistants, faculties of the department and the cluster heads of the survey

21. LinSuN Progress
In 2010, Yakkha, Bhujel, Newar (spoken in Dolaka) and Nepali (spoken in eastern parts)were surveyed.
A draft report on the use of languages and attitudes of seven languages, namely, Bhujel,Chepang, Bote, Newar, Yakkha, Lapcha and Maithili have been prepared.

22. LinSuN Progress 2011(Sociolinguistic Survey)
Kaike, Magar-Dhut,Jirel,Santhali,Bote
2011/2012 (Sociolinguistic Survey of Far-Western Development Region)-
Byansi,Abadhi,Sona-Khona,Rana Tharu,Dotyali,Acchami,Dangora Tharu,Bajhangi,Bajureli,Raute & Raji
2012 (September)Mid-Western Development Region-
Bhojpuri ,Awadhi ,Magar Kham ,Kumal ,Gurung ,Chantyal

23. Other Institutions on language Preservation and Development
UNESCO, Kathmandu
SIL International, Nepal
NFDIN(National Foundation for Development of Indigenous Nationalities)
Linguistic Society of Nepal
CERID (Research Center for Educational Innovation and Development),TU
CDC( Curriculum Development Center)
NCED (National Center for Education Development)
NFEC (Non-Formal Education Center)
Nepal Academy

24. Problems No reliable identification of the languages/dialects
Heterogeneous classes with divergent socio-linguistic situation
No clear policy and coordination
Political instability
Construction of the effective tools & maintenance of database

25. Conclusion(suggestions/recommendations)
Linguistic Survey of Nepal should be completed
Ethnographic documentation of all the minority languages
Local based textbooks and reference materials
Transitional bi/multilingual education should be strictly followed
Government role and policy level implementation
Establishment of Language Academy

26. References
Bandhu,Churamani Preservation and promotion of the Linguistic Heritage of Nepal: Problems and prospects. Paper presented in the International Conference on Linguistic Heritage of India and Asia CIIL,Mysore,India
Central Bureau of Statistics 2011 Kathmandu,CBS
Interim Constitution of Nepal 2063 Kathmandu GoN
Koul,Omkar & L Devaki (Ed.)2000 Linguistic Heritage of India and Asia.CIIL, Mysore
National Languages Policy Recommendation Commission 1994 The Report of National languages Policy Recommendation Commission, Kathmandu,Ministry of Education and Culture
LinSuN The proposal for the Linguistic Survey of Nepal (LinSuN) submitted to the National Planning Commission, Government of Nepal by Central Department ofLinguistics, Tribhuvan University, 29 June, 2008
Regmi, Dan Raj Linguistic Survey of Nepal: Progress, challenges andprospect. A paper presented at 31st Annual conferences of Linguistic Society of Nepalheld in Kathmandu, November, 2010
Tuladhar, Nirmal Man ‘Multilingual Education in Nepal.’ A paper presented at the 17th Himalayan Languages Symposium held at Kobe City University of Foreign Studies, Kobe, 6 -9 September, 2011.
Toba,Sueyoshi &Ingrid and Novel Kishore Rai 2005 Diversity and Endangerment of languages in Nepal.UNESCO Kathmandu series of Monographs and working papers No 7
UNESCO Language Survey Report Nepal 2002 Kathmandu
Turin, Mark ‘Minority Language Policies in Nepal and the Himalayas. Position Paper for SCALLA 2004 Working Conference on Crossing the Digital Divide: Shaping Technologies to Meet Human Needs, 5-7 January, 2004, Kathmandu.
UNESCO, Advocacy Kit for Promoting Multilingual Education: Including the Excluded (Policy Makers Booklet). Bangkok: UNESCO Bangkok
UNESCO, Advocacy Kit for Promoting Multilingual Education: Including
the Excluded (Policy Makers Booklet). Bangkok: UNESCO Bangkok
Yogendra Yadava and Purnaman Shakya 2009 Language issues in Contemporary Nepal and Linguistic Inclusion Paper presented in CNAS/SNV/SIRF at a seminar on State restructuring:Linguistic Situation of Nepal and Inclusive language Policy, Kathmandu
Yogendra Yadava and Shanta Bahadur Gurung 2006 The Indigeneous languages of Nepal (ILN): Situation and Policy and Recommendation,Kathmandu:NFDIN