Bhote Burmese language family is also called the Chinese Tibetan language family. After the Bharopeli language family in Nepal, most of the population belongs to this language family.
In terms of the number of languages, this language family has more languages than the Bharopeli language family. Speakers of this language family are spoken in China, Tibet, Burma, Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, and other countries.
Tamang, Newari, Magar, Rai, Thakali, Jirel, Meche, Sunuwari, Hayu, Banso Raute, Pahari, Lepcha, Dura, Raji, and Kagte etc. languages of this language family are spoken in Nepal. Tamang is the language spoken by the largest population of this family.
Here is a brief introduction to the major languages of the Bhote Burmese family spoken in Nepal;
Tamang language
Tamang is the most populous language in Nepal under the Bhote Burmese language family. This language is spoken inside and outside Nepal. In Nepal, it is spoken in Makwanpur, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchok, Kavre, Dhading, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, etc. districts, while outside Nepal, it is spoken in Darjeeling, Sikkim, Assam, Nagaland, Bhutan, Burma, etc.
This language, which has just been introduced in written literature, has also found its way into radio, newspapers, etc. in Nepal and has become an accepted language for the study from primary level to a higher level.
Although ancient works in this language were written in the Tibetan script, they are now written in the Devanagari script (Dhakal, 2066, pp. 384-385). V.S. According to the 2068 census, 5.10 percent of people in Nepal use this language as their mother tongue.
Introduction to the Languages Spoken in Nepal and Kshlatbhchamshkashushlibchath Chhkbhbhchj Shl Bhmgabatsyal Khyagimbhdh
Newari language
The language used by the Newar people is called the Newari language. The language is mainly spoken in the Kathmandu Valley, but also in the districts of Dolakha, Kavre, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, etc., as well as the Newars who have settled elsewhere for business purposes are the speakers of this language.
Earlier written in Newari script and Kyomol, Golmol, Bhunjimol, Ranjana, Lutimol etc. but now Devanagari script is used in this language (Sharma and Luitel, 2060, p. 310).
In this language, which has its own rich literature, it is found that there are many works of publishing newspapers, writing literature, making films, telefilms, and singing songs. V.S. According to the 2068 census, Newari-speaking users are 3.20 percent in Nepal.
Magar language
Magar language is spoken in Palpa, Tanahu, Nawalparasi, Syangja, Udaipur, Sindhuli, Rolpa, Dailekh, Salyan, Surkhet, etc. districts of Nepal. This language is also considered as Magar Dhut and Magar, especially as separate languages. It is also known as Langhali, Lakhrali Kaikeli (Dhakal, 2066, p. 385).
The Magar language is written in Akhwa script. The Magar language has entered news reading on Radio Nepal and has started writing dictionaries, grammars, and magazines in this language. V.S. According to the 2068 census, the number of native speakers using this language is 2.98 percent.
Rai-Kiranti language
Rai is the name of the Kiranti language group. There are many types of Rai languages in it. Languages are also found to be different according to the surnames of the Rai caste. Bantawa, Chamling, Khaling, Athapahariya, Kulung, Thulung, Chhulung, etc.
The collective name of 21 Thari Rai castes is Rai-Kiranti. In their language, some languages are mutually understandable and some Rai languages are mutually incomprehensible. Areas of use of the Rai language are Dhankuta, Khotang, Udaipur, Bhojpur, Ilam, Sankhuwasabha, Ramechhap, and other districts.
Rai-Kiranti language is written in Srijanga script. According to the National Census 2068, the population of those who speak it as their mother tongue is 0.60 percent.
Limbu language
The Limbu language is the language used by the Limbu people. Users of this language are found in Dhankuta, Panchthar, Sankhuwasabha, Terhathum, Taplejung, Ilam, Sunsari, Morang, Jhapa, and others districts.
The Limbu language, which is considered to be rich in terms of folk literature, has its own Shrijanga or Sirijanga script but now this language is also written in Devanagari script. Their scripture ‘Mundhum’ is written in this script (Ojha, 2067, p. 427).
Radio Nepal and some FMs broadcast news in this language. According to the 2068 census, the number of users of this language are 1.30 percent.
Gurung language
This is the language used by the Gurung caste, it is also called Tamu. Although the ancient origin of this language is Lamjung, it is also found in Manang, Mustang, Kaski, Tanahu, Parbat, Syangja, Gorkha, and other areas.
Settlements (Sharma and Luitel, 2060, p. 311). This language is very similar to the Tibetan language. Gurung language is written in Khem Tamu Priha script. A dictionary has been created in this language.
In the Western Development Region, where news is read on the radio, culture has been studied in this language, but literary writing has not been done. According to the 2068 census, the number of users of this language are 1.23 percent.
Sherpa language
The Sherpa language is the language used by the Sherpas, also known as the Himalayas. Although its native place is the Solukhumbu district, Sherpas living in the mountainous districts of Nepal are also users of this language.
Therefore, this language is spoken in Solukhumbu, Humla, Manang, Mustang, Ramechhap, Dolakha, etc. districts. This language is closely related to the Tibetan language. V.S. According to the 2068 census, 0.43 percent use this language as their mother tongue.
Dhimal language
It is a language spoken by the Dhimal caste. They live in different places of Jhapa, Morang, and Sunsari (Dhakal, 2066, p. 386). This language is limited to the spoken level.
According to the 2068 census, only those who speak Dhimal as their mother tongue, which is spoken in different parts of India, are only 0.07 percent.
Thakali language
The origin of the Thakali language is Thakkhola in the Mustang district. In addition, speakers of this language are also found in Syangja, Kaski, and other districts. Tired Sha is also a limited language at the verbal level. According to the 2068 census, the users of this language are only 0.02 percent.
Jirel language
The people living in and around Jiri of Dolakha district are called Jirel. The Girals speak this language as their mother tongue. It is spoken in Dolakha as well as Chitwan, Parsa, and Bara. This language is also limited to the spoken level. According to the 2068 census, the number of speakers of this language is 0.02 percent.
Dura language
Duradanda of Lamjung is the mother tongue of Durajati, the ancestral homeland (Dhakal, 2066, p. 387). This language, which is limited to spoken language, is endangered. Its mother-tongue users are also found in Tanahu, Kaski, and Chitwan districts. Its mother tongue population is 0.01 percent as per Census 2068.
Sunuwar language
Sunuwar is the language spoken by the Sunuwar caste of Ramechhap, Sindhuli, Okhaldhunga and other districts. This language is also limited to the spoken level. According to the census 2068, its mother tongue number is 0.14 percent.
Meche language
The origin of this language is Jhapa district. Meche is also called Bodo or Bode (Gautam and Chaulagai, 2070, p. 381). According to the 2068 census, the number of people who speak it as their mother tongue is 0.02 percent.
The above languages including Tibetan, Lepcha, Pahari, Bansi, Kagte, Raji, Manange, Kami, Raute, Chepang etc. are spoken in Nepal under this language family. Users of these languages are few and far between and endangered by other languages.
