Linguistic diversity is closely related to ecological and cultural diversity. The concept of
ecosystem is guided by the principle that living entities exist through a network of
interrelationships. The domains of both biological, linguistic and cultural diversities hold a
mutually reinforcing relationship. Data from Nepal would appear to support this trend: the
country is home to over 5,400 species of higher plants and 850 species of birds, 2.2% and
9.4% of the world’s totals respectively (Shrestha and Vimal 1993: 3), a high level of
biodiversity per unit area matched by a similar rate of linguistic and cultural variation.
Human success in inhabiting the earth has been due to human ability to develop diverse
cultures and languages which suit all kinds of environments. Now it may be argued that if
diversity is a prerequisite to successful humanity then the preservation of linguistic diversity
is crucial to humanity. Crystal (2000: 34) argues that “if the development of multiple cultures
is so important then the role of languages becomes critical, for cultures are chiefly
transmitted through spoken and written languages.” In the powerfully written Vanishing
Voices, Daniel Nettle and Suzanne Romaine make an explicit link between language survival
and environment issues: the extinction of languages is part of the larger picture of near-total
collapse of the worldwide ecosystem (as cited in Yadava and Turin (2007)).
Besides, various languages serve as symbols of ethnic identity and each speech community
wants to preserve and promote its language. Robinson (as cited in The Mother-Tongue
Dilemma, UNESCO 2003) likewise notes that “for a multilingual approach to work,
governments must see linguistic diversity as a boon and not a problem to be dealt with.” As
languages serve as fundamental means of communication and interpersonal relationship,
linguistic diversity needs to be looked upon as a societal resource to be planned for its full
utilization.
Nepal is a multilingual nation. However, a single language has been given power, recognition
and prestige while, as a corollary, the remaining minority languages are impoverished and
marginalized. This, along with some other factors, have led to violent conflicts and separatist
movements. It is, therefore, necessary to address these issues of linguistic minorities in the
context of inclusive democracy in Nepal.
This paper is organized into three sections. Section 1 presents a situational analysis of
linguistic diversity in Nepal. In section 2 we tease out the existing legal provisions vis-à-vis
linguistic diversity and its exclusion. Section 3 is an attempt to see how the linguistic
diversity can be accommodated in the form of an inclusive language policy compatible with
the federal structuring of the state.