Dewas Rai
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A language of Nepal
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Danuwar Rai, Rai Danuwar
Autonym
राई (rāī), राई दनुवार (rāī danuwār)
Population
10,300, all users. L1 users: 10,000 (2017 SIL). L2 users: 300 (2018 SIL). No monolinguals (2018 SIL). Ethnic population: 30,000 (2018 SIL).
Location
Janakpur zone: Sindhuli district, Mahendra Jhyadi and Pipalmadi VDCs; Narayani zone: Makwanpur district, Raigaun VDC.
Language Status
6b (Threatened).
Classification
Dialects
Reported distinct dialect in Faparbari VDC, Makwanpur. Lexical similarity: below 60% with Danuwar [dhw].
Language Use
Use decreasing among children in some areas (2017 SIL). Home, friends; Mixed use: work, religion, community. Some young people, all adults. Positive attitudes. Most also use Nepali [npi].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 15% in Nepali [npi]. Dictionary. Bible portions: 1976.
Language Resources
Writing
Devanagari script [Deva].
Previously defined as a dialect of Danuwar [dhw]. Some disagreement within the community on language and ethnic group name. Hindu, Christian, traditional religion.