Tharu, Rana

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A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3
thr
Population

336,000 in Nepal (2006), increasing. Population for all Tharu varieties: 1,530,000 (2011 census). Population total all countries: 486,000. L2 users: 46,600 L2 speakers for all Tharu languages (1991 census).

Location

Mahakali Zone, Kanchanpur district; Seti Zone, Kailali district.

Language Maps
Language Status

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

Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Eastern zone, Unclassified
Dialects

96%–99% intelligibility among dialects, 90% of Kathariya [tkt], 51%–88% reported of Dangaura [thl]. Differences with dialects in India. Reportedly similar to Awadhi (Avadhi) [awa]. Lexical similarity: 83%–97% among dialects, 73%–79% with Buksa, 74%–79% with Kathariya [tkt], 70%–73% with Sonha [soi], 63%–71% with Dangaura [thl], 56%–60% with Chitwania [the], 68%–72% with Hindi [hin].

Typology

SOV; postpositions; noun head final; 2 genders; content q-word in situ; 1 prefix, up to 2 suffixes; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; verbal affixation marks person and number; ergativity; tense (4 tenses: past, present, imminent future, irrealis future); passives and voice; nontonal; 28 consonant and 11 vowel phonemes.

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, friends, religion; mixed use: Work, education. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Hindi [hin], Nepali [npi].

Language Development
Mother-tongue multilingual education up to grade three in Kanchanpur. Taught in primary schools. Poetry. Magazines. Radio programs. Films. Videos.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tharu, Rana
Writing

Devanagari script [Deva].

Other Comments

Hindu, Christian.

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