Doteli, or Dotyali (Doteli-Devanagari: डोटेली) is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by about 495,000 people, most of whom live in Nepal. It is a dialect of Khas, which is an ancient form of the modern Nepali language, and is written in the Devanagari script. It has official status in Nepal as per Part 1, Section 6 of the Constitution of Nepal 2072 (2015).[1] There are four main dialects of Doteli, namely Baitadeli, Bajhangi Nepali, Darchuli and Doteli.[4] The mutual intelligibility between these dialects is high and all dialects of Doteli are able to share language-based materials.
| Doteli | |
|---|---|
| Dotyali | |
| डोटेली | |
 "Dotyali" written in the Doteli-Devanagari script | |
| Native to | Nepal |
| Region | Himalayas |
Native speakers | 790,000 peoples[1] 495,000 in Nepal (2021 census)[2] |
| Devanagari script (Doteli alphabet) | |
| Official status | |
Official language in | Nepal
|
Recognised minority language in | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | dty |
| Glottolog | doty1234 |
 Doteli speaking areas | |
Sample text
edit(John 3:16):
क्याकी भण्याँ परमेश्वरले संसारलाई यिसो प्रेम अर्यो, कि उनले आफन�� एकै चेलो दियो, कि उनमि विश्वास अद्द्या कोई लगइ नाश जन हऊन् , तर तइले अनन्त जीवन पाउ |
Romanization:
kyākī bhaṇyā pareśwarle sasārlāī yiso prem aryo, ki unle āphno ekai celo diyo,ki unmi viswās addyā koī lagai nāś jan haūn,tar taile anant jīwan pāū.
Translation:
For God so loved the world,that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Compare with Nepali:
किनकि परमेश्वरले संसारलाई यति प्रेम गर्नुभयो, कि उहाँले आफ्नो एकमात्र पुत्र दिनुभयो, ताकि उहाँमाथि विश्वास गर्ने कोही पनि नाश नहोस्, तर उसले अनन्त जीवन पाओस्।
Romanization:
Kinaki paramēśvaralē sansāralā'ī yati prēma garnubhayō, ki uhām̐lē āphnō ēkamātra putra dinubhayō, tāki uhām̐māthi viśvāsa garnē kōhī pani nāśa nahōs, tara usalē ananta jīvana pā'ōs.
Names of the language
editThe language is known by various names in the far–western region of Nepal, according to the districts.
| District | Terms used for language name |
|---|---|
| Kailali | Baitadeli, Bajhangi–Nepali |
| Kanchanpur | Baitadeli–Nepali, Pahadi, Nepali |
| Doti | Dotyali, Doteli |
| Dadeldhura | Dotyali, Dadeldhuri |
| Achham | Achhami, Achhami-Nepali |
| Baitadi | Baitadi, Baitadeli, Dotyali |
| Darchula | Darchuleli, Dotyali, Sauka |
| Bajhang | Bajhangi, Bajhangi–Nepali |
Official status
editThe Language Commission of Nepal has recommended Dotyali language as official language in Sudurpashchim Province.[3]
Origin and history
editAlthough Dotyali isn't fully intelligible with standard Nepali, Dotyali is considered a member of the macrolanguage Nepali.[5] In Nepal, Doteli is considered a Nepali dialect. However, local intellectuals and people of Doti, those who speak Doteli, are increasingly demanding their language to be recognized as one of the national languages of Nepal.
References
edit- ^ a b "Constitution Bill of Nepal 2072" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-01-27. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
- ^ Doteli at Ethnologue (27th ed., 2024)
- ^ a b "सरकारी कामकाजको भाषाका आधारहरूको निर्धारण तथा भाषासम्बन्धी सिफारिसहरू (पञ्चवर्षीय प्रतिवेदन- साराांश) २०७८" (PDF). Language Commission. Language Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ a b Eichentopf, Stephanie R. (2014). "A Sociolinguistic Study of Dotyali" (PDF). SIL International.
- ^ "dty | ISO 639-3". iso639-3.sil.org. Retrieved September 20, 2024.