Classical Newar

Classical Nepal Bhasa
Old Newar
पुलाङु नेपाल भास
Native to	Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet, India
Era	450 CE to 1200 CE Lichchavi dynasty to Thakuri dynasty
Language family	Sino-Tibetan Tibeto-Burman Himalayish Classical Nepal Bhasa
Writing system	Nepalese scripts: Ranjana script, Prachalit script, Bhujimol script Litumol script Other: Brahmi script, Kutila script, Devanagari
Language codes
ISO 639-2	nwc
ISO 639-3	nwc
Glottolog	None

Classical Newar (Modern: पुलां भाय्, Classical: पुलाङ्गु नेपाल भाय्), also known as Old Newar or Classical Nepal Bhasa, is the pre-12th century vernacular and literary form of Nepal Bhasa in Licchavi dynasty and Thakuri dynasty. It is an important source language for historians and linguists. The classical Newari language has also been considered a hybrid in which an extensive Sanskrit superstrate was grafted on to the Tibeto-Burman base.

Ancient era

The earliest known (dated) document in Nepal Bhasa is called "The Palmleaf from Uku Bahal" which dates back to 1114 AD (235 NS).

छीन ढाको तृसंघष परिभोग। छु पुलेंग कीत्य बिपार वस्त्र बिवु मिखा तिवु मदुगुन छु सात दुगुनव ल्है

chīna ḍhākō tr̥saṃghaṣa paribhōga, chu pulēṃga kītya bipāra vastra bivu mikhā tivu maduguna chu sāta dugunava lhai

Medieval era

The language continued growing in the Medieval period, and enjoyed royal patronage. Noted royal writers include Mahindra Malla, Siddhinarsingh Malla, Jagatprakash Malla etc. An example of the language used in that period is provided by lines of Mooldevshashidev written by Jagatprakash Malla which verse describes Shiva and the use of a tiger skin as his seat.

धु छेगुकि पाछाव वाहान

dhu chēguki pāchāva vāhāna

तिलहित बिया हिङ लाहाति थाय थायस

tilahita biyā hiŋa lāhāti thāya thāyasa

History

This language was the official language of Nepal from Licchavi era to Malla era of Nepal.Newar words appeared in Sanskrit inscriptions in the Kathmandu Valley for the first time in the fifth century. The words are names of places, taxes and merchandise indicating that it already existed as a spoken language during the Licchavi period (approximately 400–750 AD). The inscriptions from the Licchavi period includes Newari words. Hence, it indicated that Newari was the common language during Licchavi dynasty although the official use of the period was Sanskrit, but Nepal Bhasa was already in use. The earliest dated stone inscription in Thakuri dynasty is in Newari, dated Nepal Sambat 293 (1173 CE).

ISO

Classical Nepal Bhasa was introduced in ISO 639-2 code list in 2004.