Bezruchka Stephen. Nepali for Trekkers

Publisher: Three Mountaineers
Publication date: 1991
ISBN: 0898863112
Number of pages: 36The concept of a Nepali language tape for trekkers was born in 1982, as part of preparations for an Everest expedition in which I was a participant. I felt the other climbers would be better off speaking some Nepali to people along the way, as well as to our Sherpa companions and other Nepali staff. That idea developed into a tape sold by mail order. I experimented with a variety of formats and talking speeds, using different speakers. Filling the orders, usually after a busy night's work, was especially enjoyable as I read the comments people sent along. With wider distribution of the tape and an accompanying pocket-sized language book, I hope to get even more trekkers to use the language in order to have a more intimate experience with the people of Nepal.
In Nepal there were more than thirty-five languages spoken, belonging to two major language families, Sino-Tibetan, and Indo-European. Nepali, the national language, is Indo-European, Sanskrit-based, and is related to the languages of the surrounding parts of India. Only half of the Nepalis speak it as their first tongue, so chances are that many of the people the trekker will communicate with are speaking their second language. Perhaps only 20 percent of the population can read, so you won't have much of a handicap with only spoken-language skills.
The best advice I can give to the trekker is to make an attempt to speak Nepali wherever he or she can. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Trekkers always find that they have a more intimate experience in the country and are better off for doing so.