Author(s): Aditya Roy, Sambhunath Mondal
Abstract:
The Nepali language, a major member of the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages, has evolved through a complex historical process shaped by migration, political expansion, and cultural interaction in the Himalayan region. Originating from the Khas language of western Nepal, particularly the Karnali region, Nepali developed through successive linguistic stages influenced by Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Apabhramsha traditions. Its transformation from Khaskura into a standardized language was signi-ficantly accelerated during the unification of Nepal under Prithvi Narayan Shah, which facilitated its spread across diverse ethnic and linguistic communities. The study examines the historical growth of Nepali through literary contributions, notably by Bhanubhakta Acharya, and institutional efforts that promoted its standardization using the Devanagari script. It also analyzes the influence of neighboring Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Burman languages, as well as modern impacts of English, on its structure and vocabulary. The paper further explores linguistic changes in phonology, morphology, and lexicon, highlighting Nepali’s adaptive and dynamic character. In the contemporary context, Nepali functions as the official language of Nepal and holds constitutional recognition in India, reflecting its transnational significance. Despite challenges such as language shift and globalization, Nepali continues to thrive as a medium of cultural identity, communication, and literary expression. The study concludes that the historical development of Nepali exemplifies the resilience and adaptability of language in response to changing socio-political and cultural landscapes.
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