"Nepal Bhasa" redirects here. For the official language of Nepal, see Nepali language.
"Newari language" redirects here. Not to be confused with Mewari language.
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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
[newaːbʱæː]
Native to
Nepal
Region
Nepal Mandala
Ethnicity
1.3 million Newars (2021 census)[1]
Native speakers
880,000 (2021 census)[1]
Language family
Sino-Tibetan
Tibeto-Burman
Newaric
Newar
Early form
Classical Newar
Dialects
Dolakhae
Sindhupalchok
Kathmandu
Lalitpur
Bhaktapur
Panauti
Banepa
Hetauda
Dhulikhel
Chitlang
Writing system
Ranjana script, Pracalit script, Bhujimol script, Devanagari and various Nepalese scripts
This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.
Newar (English: /nəˈwɑːr/)[2] or Newari,[a] known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa,[4] 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.
"Nepal Bhasa" literally means "Nepalese language"; however, the language is not the same as Nepali (Devanāgarī: नेपाली), the country's current official language of the central government. The two languages belong to different language families (Sino-Tibetan and Indo-European, respectively), but centuries of contact have resulted in a significant body of shared vocabulary.
Newar was Nepal's administrative language from the 14th to the late 18th century. From the early 20th century until democratisation, Newar suffered from official suppression.[5] From 1952 to 1991, the percentage of Newar speakers in the Kathmandu Valley dropped from 75% to 44%[6] and today Newar culture and language are under threat.[7] The language has been listed as being "Definitely endangered language" by UNESCO.[8]
^ abNewar 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.)
^Genetti, Carol (2007). A Grammar of Dolakha Newar. Walter de Gruyter. p. 10. ISBN 978-3-11-019303-9. 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.
^Maharjan, Resha (2018). The Journey of Nepal Bhasa: From Decline to Revitalization (M.Phil. thesis). UIT The Arctic University of Norway.
^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.
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Newar (English: /nəˈwɑːr/) or Newari, known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhasa, is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants...
Newar (/nɪˈwɑːr/; Newar: नेवार, endonym: Newa; Newar: नेवा, Pracalit script: 𑐣𑐾𑐰𑐵𑑅), or Nepami, are the historical inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley...
Newar caste system is the system by which Newārs, the historical inhabitants of Kathmandu Valley, are divided into groups on the basis of Vedic varna model...
Dolakha Newar (endonym Dwālkhā Nepal Bhasa), or Eastern Newar, is a divergent dialect of the Newarlanguage (Nepal Bhasa) spoken in Dolakha District,...
Classical Newar (Modern: पुलां भाय्, Classical: पुलाङ्गु नेपाल भाय्), also known as Old Newar or Classical Nepal Bhasa, is 4th to 12th century's vernacular...
Slavic languages. Speakers of the Romani language usually refer to the language as rromani ćhib "the Romani language" or rromanes (adverb) "in a Rom way"...
Newar Buddhism is the form of Vajrayana Buddhism practiced by the Newar people of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. It has developed unique socio-religious...
The Newaric languages are a proposed group of Sino-Tibetan languages. George van Driem (2003) and Mark Turin (2004) argue that Newar and Baram–Thangmi...
writing systems employed historically in Nepal Mandala by the indigenous Newar people for primarily writing Nepal Bhasa. It is also used for transcribing...
form of Hinduism followed by the Newar people in Nepal. Newar Hinduism is based on Kaula or Vamachara concept. Newar dance consists of sacred masked dance...
in Newar, the indigenous language of Bhaktapur is Khwopa. This name is derived from Khōpring, a term that can be traced to an early form of the Newar language...
It was used in Nepal and is still used in Nepal by the Newar people to write the Newarlanguage. The script is also used in most of the Mahayana and Vajrayana...
stewing liquid sets to form a jelly-like substance when cooled. Among the Newars of Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, buffalo meat jelly, known as ta khaa, is a...
Newar people, Kathmandu is known as Yeṃ Dey (Newar: येँ देय्), and Patan and Bhaktapur are known as Yala Dey (Newar: यल देय्) and Khwopa Dey (Newar:...
श्रेष्ठ) or (Newar: स्यस्य: Syaśya or श्रेष्ठ Shrestha) is the second largest Newar caste group, occupying around 21% of overall Newar population, or...
represent numerals in this system. It is a unique system of numerals among Newar people. This system was mostly used in Malla era. Different allusions are...
on Tibeto-Burman languages spoken in the Himalayas such as Newar and Tibetan; however, the category has also been found in languages of Northwestern China...
the most popular tourist sites in the Kathmandu area. According to the Newar Buddhist history of Nepal, where the Narayanhiti Palace currently stands...
Śrēṣṭha (Newar: श्रेष्ठ) is a Nepali surname, which means "most excellent” or "great” in Sanskrit. It is one of the eponym surnames used by those belonging...
buildings are adorned with meticulously carved facades characteristic to Newar architecture. The central square is surrounded by palace complexes built...
both Intersex and LGBT rights and protection for the culture and language of the Newar people. Her court case regarding her right to identify as female...
quantity Network of enlightened Women, an American organization Newarlanguage, ISO 639-2/3 language code new Next Entertainment World, a South Korean media company...
Sapu Mhichā (Newar: सपू म्हिचा, lit. 'tripe bag') is a Nepalese dish of the Newa community, made up of buffalo leaf tripe stuffed with bone marrow. Sapu...
Nepali: छ्याङ, Newar: थो:) is a Nepalese and Tibetan alcoholic beverage also popular in parts of the eastern Himalayas, Yakkha, Limbu, Dura, Newar, Sunuwar...
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