Kathmandu, Dec 27

The latest population census held in 2011 says that there are a total of 123 languages in the country. However, the Language Commission had identified eight more languages. There are 19 languages spoken by more than 100,000 people and 30 languages spoken by ten thousand to 100,000 people.

Likewise, there are 37 languages with less than 10,000 speakers while 37 languages have less than 1,000 speakers in the country, according to Under-secretary of the Commission Gehenath Gautam. The Commission has been working to record various near-extinct languages and developing their grammar. The grammar of Bambule, Raji, Dotyali and Doteli, Dura, Syuwa (kagate), Meche languages has already been developed while the process of developing grammar of Danuwar language is underway.

In the last fiscal year, the Commission recorded Linkhim, Bajjika, Chantyal, Santhali, Bhot, Sherpa, Thami, Syuba, Ranbansi, Urav, Loharung, Sunuwar, Gopali, Tajpuriya, Yamphu, Sonaha, Jumli, Yakhya, Chamling, Sampang, Belhare, Lapccha, Aaathpuriya, Babule languages etc. The language with less than 100,000 speakers is regarded as near-extinct.