Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 1,

Dr Carol Genetti, head of the Department of Linguistics, University of California, was felicitated today for her role in disseminating the Nepal Bhasa and Dolakha Newari language in different parts of the world.

Addressing the programme organised by the Lizaa Nepal Bhasa Poetry Forum (LNBPF), Genetti said, "Extinction of a language is the loss of an entire community and a nation."

"Newar Bhasa originated from the Tibeto-Burman family. Out of three hundered different languages of this family, very few are in existence at present. This is because of interference of Nepali and English into their mainstream," said Genetti, adding: "Every week, a language faces extinction."