Doteli Explained

Doteli
Also Known As:Dotyali
Nativename:डोटेली
States:Nepal
Region:Doti (Sudurpashchim Province) and Karnali Province
Speakers: in Nepal
Date:2021 census
Ref:e27
Familycolor:Indo-European
Fam2:Indo-Iranian
Fam3:Indo-Aryan
Fam4:Northern
Fam5:Eastern Pahari
Script:Devanagari script (Nepali alphabet)
Iso3:dty
Glotto:doty1234
Glottorefname:Dotyali

Doteli, or Dotyali is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by about 495,000 people, most of whom live in Nepal. It is a dialect of Khas, which is an ancient form of the modern Nepali language, and is written in the Devanagari script. It has official status in Nepal as per Part 1, Section 6 of the Constitution of Nepal 2072 (2015).[1] There are four main dialects of Doteli, namely Baitadeli, Bajhangi Nepali, Darchuli and Doteli. The mutual intelligibility between these dialects is high and all dialects of Doteli are able to share language-based materials.

Names of the language

The language is known by various names in the far–western region of Nepal, according to the districts.

Terms used for language name by district[2] ! District !! Terms used for language name
Baitadeli, Bajhangi–Nepali
Baitadeli–Nepali, Pahadi, Nepali
Dotyali, Doteli
DadeldhuraDotyali, Dadeldhuri
AchhamAchhami, Achhami-Nepali
Baitadi, Baitadeli, Dotyali
Darchuleli, Dotyali, Sauka
Bajhangi, Bajhangi–Nepali

Official status

The Language Commission of Nepal has recommended Dotyali language as official language in Sudurpashchim Province.[3]

Origin and history

Although Dotyali isn't fully intelligible with standard Nepali, Dotyali is considered a member of the macrolanguage Nepali.[4] In Nepal, Doteli is considered a Nepali dialect. However, local intellectuals and people of Doti, those who speak Doteli, are increasingly demanding their language to be recognized as one of the national languages of Nepal.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Constitution Bill of Nepal 2072 . 2017-04-29 . 2018-01-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180127052553/http://www.inseconline.org/linkedfile/Bill%20Of%20Constitution%202015%20Sept.pdf . dead .
  2. Eichentopf . Stephanie R. . 2014 . A Sociolinguistic Study of Dotyali . SIL International.
  3. Web site: सरकारी कामकाजको भाषाका आधारहरूको निर्धारण तथा भाषासम्बन्धी सिफारिसहरू (पञ्चवर्षीय प्रतिवेदन- साराांश) २०७८ . Language Commission . Language Commission . 28 October 2021 . 6 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210906171816/https://languagecommission.gov.np/files/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B8%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE.pdf . dead .
  4. https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/dty>