Keeping the Nepali language in our household has been difficult. Shreemati has picked up quite a bit of the language but it still is not at a point where we can converse at home. To be honest we have not made as much of an effort as we should. This year we tried making the time between my arrival from work and bed time as the official Nepali speaking time – but we had a few of Shreemati’s relatives come for a visit and that kind of fell by the way side.
Of course when we have Nepali people over we speak Nepali and last summer my parents were here so there was plenty of Nepali to go around. To compensate I show the girls some Nepali songs and music videos and keep Nepali books around. Quite interestingly the girls love the “Maiti Ghar” music video the most. Of course its a song about “the fathers house” being special to a girl once she marries and goes to live with her husband.
Are your children bilingual? Do they understand a lot of Nepali? Many of our friends who have American-Nepalese households have “lost” the Nepali language. Their children do not understand anything above “Namaste,” numbers, and “K cha?” I would love tips/advice on how to incorporate the language esp with children. I love the idea of “after school to bed” as the “official Nepali language time.”
Made to Mix – no my kids are not bilingual, but I feel like I have time. They’re pretty young and we’re committed to having them understand Nepali. You’re right I have yet to see a Nepali-American household with bilingual kids.
I’m American an only just learning Nepali. I’m mostly self taught, but I do bounce the language off my partner on a daily basis. He is often surprised by the addition of a new phrase to the day, just yesterday I added, “timilai bujhe” when my initial attempt at a phrase in Newari received an awkward hesitant silence. And he just laughed, “where do you keep getting all this?” In only 9 months I’ve learned major basics of niceties, like “chia toune duna” and “shubbah bihan/ratri”. I am often heard calling after my daughter, “Annus”. Certainly not fluent, but I’m aiming for conversationally fluent by next summer. I’m looking for more exposure. I have mastered 90% proficiency with the Devanagri character/sound relationships. Although all those t, th, d, dha, etc. are the hardest to remember. As for Newari, the cha vs, chha is impossible, I imagine I sound like Tarzan to anyone who knows the language.
For now, I’ll stick to “Chia co lagi, danyabhad.” Its a little bit more than “Ke cha?” By the way, malai timiko blog man parcha! Keep it up.
Thank you for your kind words and your Nepali is certainly good! Keep it up.