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Language politics in Nepal: A socio-historical overview.

Authors :
Gautam, Bhim Lal
Source :
Journal of World Languages; Aug2021, Vol. 7 Issue 2, p355-374, 20p
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

This paper aims to outline the language politics in Nepal by focusing on the influences and expansions shifted from Global North to the Global South. Based on a small-scale case study of interviews and various political movements and legislative documents, this paper discusses linguistic diversity and multilingualism, globalization, and their impacts on Nepal's linguistic landscapes. It finds that the language politics in Nepal has been shifted and changed throughout history because of different governmental and political changes. Different ideas have emerged because of globalization and neoliberal impacts which are responsible for language contact, shift, and change in Nepalese society. It concludes that the diversified politics and multilingualism in Nepal have been functioning as a double-edged sword, which on the one hand promotes and preserves linguistic and cultural diversity and on the other hand squeezes the size of diversity by vitalizing the Nepali and English languages through contact and globalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
21698252
Volume :
7
Issue :
2
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Journal of World Languages
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
155283802
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1515/jwl-2021-0010