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Indo-Aryan language of Eastern Pahari branch spoken in Nepal
Jumli Khas
जुम्ली खस
The word "Jumli Khas" written in Jumli-Devanagari script
Jumli or Jumli Khas (Jumli-Devanagari: जुम्ली खस) is an Indo-Aryan language of Nepal closely related to Nepali. It is primarily spoken in Jumla district and surroundings district in the Karnali Province of Nepal. The language is occasionally referred to as a dialect of Nepali; however, the Government of Nepal considers Jumli as a different language. The numbers of native speakers estimated 40,000. The Khas language is known as the parent language of Nepali language.
Dialects
Asi Darali, spoken in 80 Dara, 500 Dara and Sinja Dara of Jumla district.
Tribikoti, spoken in 1420 Dara of Jumla district and Dolpa District.
Khas language is considered to be the parent language of Nepali. The language is considered to developed in Sinja Valley of Karnali province.
2017 Proposed Phonology
On 17 August 2017, a draft regarding 'Jumli Khas language writing style' was proposed. The draft proposed 29 consonants and 6 vowels for writing the language. According to Ramanand Acharya, a linguist and editor of the Jumli Khas dictionary, the proposed draft was prepared based on the Khas language and colloquial language and vernacular spoken in the then Karnali Khas Kingdom. However, on 15 August 2022, the Language Commission of Nepal finalized a phonology with 24 vowels and 41 consonant characters.
Vowels
Unlike Nepali, Jumli Khas only have 6 oral vowels.
The standard record regarding the grammar and vocabulary was not collected and standardized as of 2022. On 15 August 2022, at the initiative of the local government, the Language Commission started the process of documenting and archiving the language. According to proposal, 24 vowels and 41 consonant characters were finalized for developing writing system of the language.
In 2008, Ramanand Acharya started compiling the first ever Jumli Khas Dictionary titled Khasiya Akhar. Khas means Khas people and Aakhar means word or a letter. As of 2019, he had collected around 25 thousands words. The collection process has been at a slow rate due to lack of funding. The Karnali Province government allocated funds for the process in the budget of the fiscal year 2077/2078 BS (2020/2021).
References
"Jumli". Ethnologue: Languages of the World. SIL International. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
The word "Jumli Khas" written in Jumli-Devanagari script
Jumli speaking areas
