Nepali Language Learning Resources
Learning Nepali . . .
If you are a cross-cultural worker among Bhutanese and/or Nepali diasporas, you may be tempted to think that learning to speak Nepali is not very important. After all, now they are living in the U.S. or Canada or New Zealand and we should really focus on teaching them the host language. Well, think again. Our experience working with diaspora (migrant) people has helped us to see that the efforts of Christ-followers to learn the language of their new neighbors from other nations can reap great dividends. Beyond the obvious practical benefits, learning to converse with your Bhutanese friend in their own language communicates to them that you truly love them "as you love yourself." You may think of this as a kind of "inverted assimilation", in which a Christ-follower from a host country seeks to incarnate the Savior in the lives, homes, communities and hearts of new immigrants.
Please note one thing, however. It is essential that all your Nepali language study be done in the context of authentic, regular and deep relationships with Nepali speakers. They will tend to be delighted to help you with your language learning, so don't be shy ("sharam namanna!"). Your language-learning should be a time for deepening relationships. Beyond this, there is the practical reality that there are differenced between the way Bhutanese refugees speak Nepali and the way Nepali is taught in books. You will never know these differences without relationships.
There are a lot of great resources online for learning the Nepali language. I have made use of several. You can always find something by simply "googling" something like "free Nepali lessons". Let me suggest a few specific places to check out:
1. Nepali Primer http://www.digitalhimalaya.com/projectteam/turin/downloads/nepali_primer.pdf - This is a basic introduction to the Nepali language that has been produced by the Digital Himalaya Project. If you are just getting started with Nepali, you will be hard-pressed to find a better, free online resource.
2. Speak the Way they Do on Top of the World http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0qqHfqu3oA - Here is a series of videos on YouTube that take you through several simple lessons. I used this a lot when I was just getting started. It was helpful to me to be able to see and hear the language.
3. Dictionaries - There are multiple English-Nepali dictionaries available. The most advanced and helpful that I've seen (whether for free or purchase) is Turner's http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/turner/. It's an advanced dictionary that I use a lot for translation purposes. However, you may find it difficult for more conversational purposes. Instead, try Kramer's http://www.nepalresearch.com/dictionaries/nep_eng/nep_eng.pdf.
4. Language Tools - As you progress, you will undoubtedly find the need to type in Nepali (Devanagari) script. For this, I primarily use Nepali Unicode http://www.ashesh.com.np/nepali-unicode.php. There is also an interesting virtual keyboard here http://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/devanagari.htm. Additionally, I frequently make use of a couple Sanskrit-English dictionaries online for translation, song-writing, and other purposes. See http://spokensanskrit.de/ and http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/apte/.
5. Nepali Lessons on MP3 - I've come across the following Nepali language lessons on MP3 that seem to have been produced by a YWAM group called Nepali Alliance. However, that is simply my guess. If anyone knows for sure, please do let me know.
Please note one thing, however. It is essential that all your Nepali language study be done in the context of authentic, regular and deep relationships with Nepali speakers. They will tend to be delighted to help you with your language learning, so don't be shy ("sharam namanna!"). Your language-learning should be a time for deepening relationships. Beyond this, there is the practical reality that there are differenced between the way Bhutanese refugees speak Nepali and the way Nepali is taught in books. You will never know these differences without relationships.
There are a lot of great resources online for learning the Nepali language. I have made use of several. You can always find something by simply "googling" something like "free Nepali lessons". Let me suggest a few specific places to check out:
1. Nepali Primer http://www.digitalhimalaya.com/projectteam/turin/downloads/nepali_primer.pdf - This is a basic introduction to the Nepali language that has been produced by the Digital Himalaya Project. If you are just getting started with Nepali, you will be hard-pressed to find a better, free online resource.
2. Speak the Way they Do on Top of the World http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0qqHfqu3oA - Here is a series of videos on YouTube that take you through several simple lessons. I used this a lot when I was just getting started. It was helpful to me to be able to see and hear the language.
3. Dictionaries - There are multiple English-Nepali dictionaries available. The most advanced and helpful that I've seen (whether for free or purchase) is Turner's http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/turner/. It's an advanced dictionary that I use a lot for translation purposes. However, you may find it difficult for more conversational purposes. Instead, try Kramer's http://www.nepalresearch.com/dictionaries/nep_eng/nep_eng.pdf.
4. Language Tools - As you progress, you will undoubtedly find the need to type in Nepali (Devanagari) script. For this, I primarily use Nepali Unicode http://www.ashesh.com.np/nepali-unicode.php. There is also an interesting virtual keyboard here http://www.lexilogos.com/keyboard/devanagari.htm. Additionally, I frequently make use of a couple Sanskrit-English dictionaries online for translation, song-writing, and other purposes. See http://spokensanskrit.de/ and http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/apte/.
5. Nepali Lessons on MP3 - I've come across the following Nepali language lessons on MP3 that seem to have been produced by a YWAM group called Nepali Alliance. However, that is simply my guess. If anyone knows for sure, please do let me know.
