The Kirati Languages and the Issue of ‘Rai’ in the Censuses of Nepal: A Critical Review

Abstract

This study critically explores the trends of the Kirati languages in the national censuses of Nepal conducted  in  2001, 2011, and 2021. Employing the quantitative and qualitative methods as the interpretation, this paper analyzes trends of distribution of the speakers and status of the intergenerational transmission. The findings reveal an unusual and uneven distribution of the Kirati languages. Along with this, many smaller languages are identified as not only marginal but also highly vulnerable. Notably, several languages show increases in the number of speakers over time; they are not an outcome of the demographic growth alone.  Instead, they are reflections of ethnolinguistic awareness and identity the communities are engaged with. Besides, a major issue examined in the study is the case of ‘Rai,’ which appeared in the last two censuses, 2011 and 2021. There are a number of inconsistencies in the naming and spelling of the Kirati languages. The emergence of new languages and complexity of the censuses are discussed, questioning the reliability of the censuses. The paper argues that census data need to be more accurate and recommends clearer identification and classification of the languages and better enumeration practices.