Wayu

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A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3
vay
Alternate Names
Bayu, Hayu, Vayu, Wayo
Population

1,740 (2001 census), decreasing. No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 1,800 (2001 census) to 2,800 (2000).

Location

Janakpur Zone, Ramechhap district, Mudajor and Sukajor villages; Sindhuli district, Manedihi village. Sun Koshi valley across Mahabharat range south.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting). Language of recognized nationality (2002, NFDIN Act, No. 20, Section 2C).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Himalayan, Kiranti, Western
Dialects

Marin Khola, Sindhuli.

Typology

SOV; postpositions; noun head final; no noun classes or genders; content q-word in situ; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; verbal affixation marks person and number; ergativity; tense; no passives or voice; nontonal; 27 consonant and 8 vowel phonemes

Language Use

Ethnic Wayu live on the hills on both sides of the Sun Kosi River but the language is only spoken in the villages listed. In 1995 many children in Mudajor were not learning Wayu but the language was alive and well in Manedihi (2002 UNESCO). A growing interest in language preservation. Religion; mixed use: Home, friends. Older adults and elderly. Some use among young adults. Negative attitudes among some Wayu who feel the language is an obstacle to progress; a minority would like to keep speaking it. All also use Nepali [npi].

Writing
Devanagari script.
Other Comments

Strong Nepali [npi] influences in phonology, lexicon, and grammar (Matisoff 1991). Traditional religion, Hindu.