The Dhimal are an ethnic minority group of some 20,000 native speakers with two major dialects (Eastern and Western). They live in southeastern Nepal and across the border in India. Dhimal certainly is one of endangered languages likely to become extinct during the next decade(s). In the period of monarchy in Nepal (till about 2008 when the last, rather unpopular king had to abdicate), all ethnic minority groups were looked down upon by the major part of dominating Nepali society with its Hindu-based cultural roots. Areas where those ethnic minority groups traditionally live, in consequence, are the least developed in Nepal because of the lacking willingness of former central governments to spend funds, efforts and energy on the development of the latter.

No wonder then that strong resistance against discrimination and government policies developed in these areas over time, resulting in a brutal civil war between local (mostly Maoist-inspired) guerilla groups and Nepalese military. The central government lost control over most of these areas during that civil war. Today, things have changed somewhat with the consequence that Nepal has become a Federal Republic and a new constitution affirming the equal rights of all ethnic groups living in Nepal with an explicit statement that all languages spoken by the ethnic groups in Nepal have equal status with Nepali functioning as a lingu franca among all those different ethnic groups.

Dhimal certainly with its 20, 000 native speakers or so is one of the smallest language groups compared for example with Limbu of several hundred thousand native speakers.

Now, that the civil war in Nepal is over, “their swords are beaten into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” - to use a phrase from Isaiah 2:4. Now, former guerilla fighters are working on literacy, grammar, dictionary and language reform projects of these ethnic minority languages, with some of them (including Dhimal) were hitherto unwritten languages. Qualified linguists and language teachers form an essential part of such an ongoing development process.

Below, there are some sample extracts from the appendices of my graduate student’s Ph. D. dissertation covering these topics in relation to Dhimal as one of these ethnic minority languages concerned.

I as a foreigner personally feel privileged to be small part of such a process with the opportunity to contribute a little. It’s one of the rarer opportunities in life to put one own’s education to good and responsible use in helping out others for the common good of society.