SIL Nepal

Those literate in Nepali read their own language for the first time

In the last few months, more than 460 participants have attended classes to read and write in a language they previously had only spoken. Literacy programs are typically created for those who have never learned to read before, in any language. But in the last 15-20 years school attendance in Nepal has increased. So, many minority language speakers are now literate—but only in the Nepali language. These new classes are teaching participants how to apply their literacy skills in Nepali to their own mother tongue.

Orthography (Writing System) Development

However, before mother-tongue literacy programs, literature, and dictionaries can be developed, the writing system (orthography) needs to be established and spelling rules standardized. SIL has developed a two-week participatory orthography development workshop, that with the help of trained linguists, enables communities to process and develop an alphabet with spelling rules. Participants leave with a draft of a writer’s guide for further testing and input. After testing and receiving input from the language community, revisions are made at a review meeting and the orthography is finalized.

Next step: two-day Orthography Promotion classes

After the orthography is finalized for a language, two local facilitators are trained to lead Orthography Promotion classes in their language communities. Since the workshop participants are already fluent readers of Nepali, materials and curriculum have been developed to assist participants in applying their literacy skills to their mother tongue.

These short, two-day classes introduce basic concepts on how to read and write one’s mother tongue—why the symbols were chosen and what the spelling rules are. The first day is spent in reading practice and the second day is dedicated to writing.

These classes have proven to be effective and are very popular. HIS-Nepal, a local partner organization of SIL Nepal, has recently organized Orthography Promotion classes in: Central Tharu, Syuba, Athpariya, Lhowa, Chitwan and Nawalparasi.


Literacy classes and alphabet chart in the Central Tharu language.
Click on image to enlarge

Local response

It is our responsibility to promote our language, but we have not been able to do that so far. Now, HIS-Nepal and SIL have come to our area and helped us preserve our language and culture. We are so happy. The classes were held in many villages and it has given us a positive attitude towards our language. I had heard about multilingual education but I had not seen any. I am really excited and happy that I have been able to be involved in the promotion of our orthography as a teacher of these classes. – Ronu Chaudhary, Orthography Promotion teacher

I had seen many reading materials in our language. When I started to read them there were some dots and new letters and I didn't know how to read them properly. So that made me lazy to read those books. Then I thought to attend this class so that I would know the new symbols and to be able to read those books. The class was very helpful and now I know how to read those dots and letters. – Lhowa workshop participant

To have the right to read and write in our language was our main agenda to the Government…Now we have this right to read and write our language. – Central Tharu workshop participant

This training on Tharu language writing system is historical and first time in our district. It gave us awareness and a big concern towards our mother tongue. – Tharu local leader

I am happy that I attended the class. I came to know many new things about our language and new information about our language and culture. –Tek Narayan Thanet