List of endangered languages in Nepal

Language Endangerment Status

by UNESCO Atlas of the World's
Languages in Danger category

Extinct (EX)

* Extinct (EX)

* (lists)

Endangered

* Critically Endangered (CR)
* Severely Endangered (SE)
* Definitely Endangered (DE)
* Vulnerable (VU)

* (list)
* (list)
* (list)
* (list)

Safe

* Safe (NE)

* no list

* * *

Other categories

* Revived (RE)
* Constructed (CL)

* (list)
* (list)

* * *

Related topics

* Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger
* Endangered Languages Project
* Ethnologue
* Unclassified language
* List of languages by total number of speakers

* * *

UNESCO Atlas of the World's
Languages in Danger categories

* v
* t
* e

An endangered language is a language that it is at risk of falling out of use, generally because it has few surviving speakers. If it loses all of its native speakers, it becomes an extinct language. UNESCO defines four levels of language endangerment between "safe" (not endangered) and "extinct":[1]

* Vulnerable
* Definitely endangered
* Severely endangered
* Critically endangered

The languages listed below are endangered in Nepal, although they may be vibrant in other countries.

Language | Speakers[2] | Status[1] | Comments

|
|
|

Athpare | 5,500  | Definitely endangered  |
Bahing | 11,600  | Definitely endangered  |
Bantawa | 132,600  | Vulnerable  |
Baram | 155  | Critically endangered  |
Bote-Darai | 11,700  | Severely endangered  |
Chamling | 76,800  | Definitely endangered  |
Chantyal | 4,300  | Definitely endangered  |
Chepang | 48,500  | Vulnerable  |
Chintang | 3,700  | Severely endangered  |
Chulung | 2,000  | Definitely endangered  |
Danuwar | 45,800  | Severely endangered  |
Dhimal | 19,300  | Severely endangered  |
Dol-po | 1,700  | Definitely endangered  |
Dumi | 650  | Critically endangered  |
Dungmali | 6,300  | Definitely endangered  |
Ghale | 8,100  | Vulnerable  |
Gurung | 325,600  | Definitely endangered  |
Gyasumdo | 390  | Definitely endangered  |
Ha-lung Tibetan |  | Definitely endangered  |
Vayu | 1,500  | Critically endangered  |
Jerung | 1,700  | Vulnerable  |
Jirel | 4,800  | Definitely endangered  |
Kagate | 99  | Definitely endangered  |
Kaike | 50  | Definitely endangered  |
Khaccaḍ Bhoṭe |  | Definitely endangered  |
Khaling | 14,500  | Definitely endangered  |
Kham | 27,100  | Definitely endangered  |
Kohi | 1,300  | Vulnerable  |
Kulung | 33,200  | Vulnerable  |
Kumhali | 12,200  | Severely endangered  |
Kurux | 33,700  | Vulnerable  |
Kusunda | 87  | Critically endangered  |
Langthang Tibetan |  | Definitely endangered  |
Limirong Tibetan |  | Definitely endangered  |
Lohorung | 3,700  | Severely endangered  |
Loke Tibetan |  | Definitely endangered  |
Magar | 788,500  | Definitely endangered  |
Majhi | 24,400  | Severely endangered  |
Mewahang | 4,700  | Severely endangered  |
Nachhiring | 284  | Severely endangered  |
Nar Phu | 600  | Definitely endangered  |
Newar (Nepal Bhasa)  | 846,600  | Definitely endangered  |
Nubri |  | Definitely endangered  |
Nyishangba |  | Definitely endangered  |
Puma | 6,700  | Severely endangered  |
Raji | 3,800  | Severely endangered  |
Raute | 461  | Severely endangered  |
Sām | 401  | Severely endangered  |
Sampang | 18,300  | Vulnerable  |
Santali | 49,900  | Vulnerable  |
Seke |  | Vulnerable  |
Sunwar | 37,900  | Vulnerable  |
Surel | 287  | Critically endangered  |
Thakali | 5,200  | Vulnerable  |
Thangmi | 23,200  | Definitely endangered  |
Thulung | 20,700  | Definitely endangered  |
Tilung | 1,400  | Definitely endangered  |
Tsum |  | Definitely endangered  |
Wambule | 13,500  | Vulnerable  |
Yakkha | 19,600  | Critically endangered  |
Yamphu | 9,200  | Definitely endangered  |

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Moseley, Christopher, ed. (2010). Atlas of the World's Languages in Danger. Memory of Peoples (3rd ed.). Paris: UNESCO Publishing. ISBN 978-92-3-104096-2. Retrieved 2015-04-11.
2. ^ "National Population and Housing Census 2011: Social Characteristics Tables" (PDF). Nepal Census - via Government of Nepal.

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