The history of the Nepali language dates back to ancient times, from the time when Nepali language was first spoken. In history, the Nepali language is also known by the names Khas, Parbate, Pahadi, Malla, Gorkha or Gorkha.
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भाषा : संस्कृतिको धागो, पहिचानको आधार
What is a public relations language? The answers can be many. However, in fact, from a linguistic perspective, a language that acts as a bridge for communication between people, acts as a bridge, or connects or brings together two different linguistic communities is considered a public relations language.
Such a language does not divide, but connects. In the context of Nepal, the Nepali national language is the language of public relations, so it is the common language of all Nepalis.
Nepali language did not become the national language just because it is the language of government work, it was not made the national language because it is the fundamental basis of the identity of the nation, it happened. The history of the Nepali language dates back to ancient times in an unwritten form, that is, from the time when the expressions of the Nepalis found expression, the Nepali language has existed since that time, but its recorded existence is more than a thousand years.
Although historians of the language have mentioned that the origin of the Nepali language is about a thousand years ago, Mohan Prasad Khanal, a scholar of linguistic history and author of the book 'Nepali Bhashaka Hajar Barsha', has mentioned phrases such as 'Samvachchar Chari Saya Aath, Samvachchar Chari Saya Nava' based on the letters of the Gopal dynasty and has traced its historical background to Bikram Sambat 408. Before this language was named 'Nepali', its history shows that it was named based on the region. If we look at the records available in Nepal, the first records of the Nepali language are Damupal's records (1038), 'Bamu Khadka's Column Inscription' (1151 BS) and Ashoka Challa's copperplate (1212 BS) and these records, found in Dullu and Sinja of Karnali respectively, are the real history of the Nepali language.
The history or development process of the Nepali language that developed in this way is studied by considering the period from the eleventh century to the middle of the sixteenth century (1555) as ancient times, from 1555 to 1826, when Prithvi Narayan Shah completed the unification of Nepal, as medieval times, and from 1826 onwards as modern times.
This language is also known by the names Khas language, Parvate language, Pahadi language, Malla language, Gorkha or Gorkha language etc. The Kathmandu Valley was previously known as Nepal and after Prithvi Narayan Shah unified Nepal, the name Nepali language came from the Gorkha language. Earlier, it meant the language of the Nepalese living in vast Nepal, but now the Nepali race has spread all over the world and has become a great race. This language has also become a universal language because it has spread to all those places.
The nature of language is changeable and the Nepali language has also changed itself in different periods of history. The language of Bhanubhakta's time and Motiram's time does not exist now and the current language will also change over time. No matter how and in what form it changes over time, the Nepali language is a strong formula for the unity of Nepali people.
Nepal is a multilingual, multi-ethnic and multicultural country. There are statistics that one hundred and twenty-four languages are currently spoken in Nepal according to ethnicity and region. The speakers of these one hundred and twenty-four languages, except for a few languages, often do not understand each other's language. Since the Khas Aryans do not have a mother tongue of their own, they speak Nepali when they speak to each other, and even if it is their mother tongue, it is the language of public relations. In a multilingual country like ours, a language of public relations that acts as a communication channel between speakers of one language and another is needed, and that is the Nepali language.
The history of the Nepali language dates back to ancient times, from the time when Nepali expressions found their voice. In history, the Nepali language is also known by the names Khas, Parvate, Pahadi, Malla, Gorkha or Gorkha etc. Multilingualism is the beauty of Nepal and every language should be respected here equally. No language should be allowed to become a dead language. Some languages are now facing extinction and it is difficult to find their speakers. In such a situation, Nepali language is important as a language of public relations to revive such languages by communicating them to linguistic communities different from that language.
When a Newar speaks or talks to a Newar, he speaks in Nepal Bhasa or Newari. When a Magar speaks or talks to a Magar, he speaks in the Magar language. When a Gurung expresses his opinion to a Gurung, he speaks in the Gurung language. When a Maithili speaks or talks to a Maithili, he speaks in the Maithili language, and when an Awadhi or Bhojpuri speaker speaks to a Tattat speaker, he speaks in his own mother tongue. Moreover, due to the many linguistic differences found in the Rai and Limbu languages, there is a situation where even the speakers of those languages cannot communicate their opinions. Such situations are common in multilingual countries or communities.
When a Bahun talks to a Newar, Gurung, Magar or Bhojpuri or a Tamang, Sherpa or Musahar talks to a Kshetri, Rai or Limbu, or a Tharu, Dhimal or Doteli and Bajhangi talks to a linguistic community different from his own, he needs the language of public relations and he presents his expression through the language of public relations. In the context of the languages of Nepal, the Nepali language is also the language of the connecting thread for the Nepalis.
The Nepali language has unified Nepal from a linguistic point of view, while Prithvi Narayan Shah unified Nepal from a geographical point of view. For us, the Nepali language is the link of multi-ethnic and multilingual beauty. Language is not only a means of expression, but also civilization and culture. If language is destroyed, civilization is destroyed and culture is destroyed. Language is also identity and if language is destroyed, identity also ends.
If we want to save the one hundred and twenty-four languages in Nepal and ensure good linguistic communication and cooperation between them, it is necessary for the Nepali language to be strong as the language of public relations. It is not a prohibition or insistence on any language among any language-speaking community, but it is necessary for the language-speaking community to work towards acceptance.
Long ago, some parts of Nepal and India were Nepali-speaking areas. Now it is the era of globalization and the Nepalis are scattered in many countries. Wherever those Nepalis have spread, they have taken their language, culture and traditions with them. This is the specialty of the Nepali race being a great race. In today's environment, the beauty of this vastness should be respected. The Nepalis scattered in countries like India, Myanmar, Thailand, America, Australia etc. are studying and creating curricula and textbooks to save their Nepali great race language. This is the search for identity.
If we want to save the one hundred and twenty-four languages in Nepal and ensure good linguistic communication and cooperation between them, it is necessary for Nepali language to be strong as the language of public relations. Just like in the country, Nepalis scattered abroad are also scattered in different castes, regions, communities, etc. and they also have their own institutions, associations and organizations. When all of them come to one place, they use Nepali language as the language of public relations to express their thoughts or express their opinions in a linguistic community different from theirs. Therefore, it is clear that this language is also a language that has become a symbol of unity of Nepalis scattered at home or abroad.
In the recent times, in the Nepali language, under the guise of simplifying the language, it has been seen that the Nepalis themselves have unknowingly tried to eliminate it and have also been oriented towards eliminating the beauty of the combined letters of the Devanagari script, and that well-planned campaign has also been defeated.
The language prevalent or spoken in every caste and region is equally important everywhere, but a contact language reduces the distance between two or more languages and acts as a closeness between them.
Now the originality in the Nepali language has started to be lost. Today's Gen-G generation is unfamiliar with some original words. They speak seventy-five percent English mixed with it and often use Nepali only as verbs and use other English.
They find it easier to say 'fortieth and seventy-two' etc. than to say forty-eight and thirty-three. This is more a product of circumstances than their fault. The deviations seen in the national language, especially the Nepali language of public relations, should not embarrass our Nepali identity and Nepaliness in the future. (Gautam is a professor at the Central Department of Nepali at TU)
