Tharu, Central

A language of Nepal

Chhetriya Tharu, Chitawan Tharu, Chitoniya Tharu, Chitwan Tharu, Chitwania Tharu, Madhya Chhetriya Tharu, Madhya Ksetriya Tharu

User Population

285,000 in Nepal (2001 census), increasing. Population for all Tharu varieties: 1,530,000 (2011 census).

Location

Bagmati province: Chitwan district; Gandaki province: East Nawalparasi district; Janakpur province: Bara and Parsa districts, northern municipalities; Lumbini province: West Nawalparasi, northern municipalities.

Language Maps

5 (Developing). Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Tharu.

Classification

Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Tharu, Eastern Tharu

Dialects

Laulpuriya (Laulpuriya Tharu, Nawalparasi, Nawalpuriya Tharu), Chitwan (Chitoniya Tharu, Chitwan Tharu, Chitwania Tharu, Chitwaniya).

Typology

SOV; postpositions; noun head final; 2 genders; content q-word in situ; up to 3 suffixes; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; verbal affixation marks person and number; tense and aspect; passive construction; nontonal; 34 consonant and 6 vowel phonemes (5 of the vowels can be nasalized).

Language Use

Vigorous within the language community. Home, friends, religion; mixed use: Work, education. Used by all. Mixed attitudes, from neutral to negative. Also use Bhojpuri [bho]. Also use Hindi [hin]. Also use Nepali [npi].

Language Development

Taught as subject in primary schools. Literature. Newspapers. Periodicals. Radio. Videos. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 1977.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Tharu, Central

Writing

Devanagari script [Deva].

Other Comments

Traditional religion.