 Nepali is the official language of Nepal, with over 30
other languages spoken as mother-tongues in different
parts of the country, and as well there are many
regional dialects. Nepali is of the Indo-Aryan family of
languages brought from central Asia by the Aryans about
1500 BC. The original Old Indo-Aryan language gave rise
to Sanskrit from which Nepali derives.
In common with Hindi, Nepali uses the Devanagri script
(the script of the city of the gods, sometimes known as
Nagari) which derived from the Brahmi script of ancient
India.
English is spoken, with much of the schooling in the
cities in the English medium. As well many in the travel
and tourism industry speak German, Spanish, Japanese,
French and Italian.
In Kathmandu at the Bishwa Bhasha Campus (at
Bhrikutimandap) of Tribhuvan University foreign students
can study Nepali (spoken and Devanagari script), Newari,
Sanskrit and Tibetan languages. At Tribhuvan University
in Kirtipur there is the Department of Nepali Studies,
where BA and MA studies in Nepali language can be
pursued. Sanskrit is also taught in the medical
colleges, as many of the texts for natural medicines (ayurvedic
and homoeopathic) are written in Sanskrit. |
