I was beginning to study some of my notes on the Tibetan language from 1985 an 1986 which is I believe presently a Sanskrit based language. However, I likely will have to research this more because Hindi and Russian might be Sanskrit based languages as well. So far, I have learned that Newari or Newar or Nepal Bhasa (all terms for the same thing) is NOT a Sanskrit based language rather a Tibeto-Burman language instead.
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No, Newari (properly known as
Nepal Bhasa) is not a Sanskrit-based language in terms of its origin or structure. It is a Tibeto-Burman language belonging to the Sino-Tibetan language family.However,
it has been heavily influenced by Sanskrit and other Indo-Aryan
languages (like Maithili and Nepali) due to centuries of close contact,
resulting in a large number of loanwords.
Here are the key details regarding the language's classification and influences:
- Linguistic Roots: As a Tibeto-Burman language, its grammatical structure, syntax, and basic vocabulary are distinct from Indo-European languages like Sanskrit.
- Sanskrit Influence: Due to the cultural, religious, and political influence of Sanskrit-using rulers (like the Licchavis and Mallas) in the Kathmandu Valley, Classical Newari adopted a significant amount of Sanskrit vocabulary.
- Literature: Early literature in Newar often consisted of translations from Sanskrit, but by the 14th century, it had developed its own distinct literary tradition.
- Script: While Newar is a Sino-Tibetan language, it has historically been written in scripts derived from Indian alphabets (such as Ranjana and Prachalit), and today it is often written in Devanagari.
In summary, Newari is a Tibeto-Burman language with heavy Sanskrit lexical borrowing, not a derivative of Sanskrit.
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