Language shift in urban spaces and its impact on language pedagogy: Case of Sherpa, Maithili, Newar and Tamang communities in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal
Language shift in urban spaces and its impact on language pedagogy: Case of Sherpa, Maithili, Newar and Tamang communities in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal

Summary/Abstract: This paper examines the trends of language shift and its impact on language pedagogy, especially in the increasingly multilingual case context of the Kathmandu Valley. The data for this mixed-method study were collected through a survey, interviews and focus group discussion among Sherpa, Newar, Maithili and Tamang speakers who have been living in urban spaces in the Kathmandu Valley. The findings indicate that language shift was commonly observed among these speakers and this shift was towards the dominant languages such as Nepali, English, and Hindi. Such a shift was influenced by the positive socialisation experiences associated with these languages. The research further outlines myriad patterns of language usage and attitudes within the cosmopolitan context impacted by factors such as migration, intermarriage, media discourse, and the social, cultural and educational dimensions associated with these languages. These findings imply that language pedagogy, such as the teaching of Nepali, English and other ethnic languages, should be reconsidered in relation to the changing language shift trends, so that students who have migrated to Kathmandu and are from migrant backgrounds can benefit from the schooling system. Doing so will make an important contribution to revitalising these minority languages and promote the linguistic diversity of the Valley.

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