Dialects: 96%–99% intelligibility among dialects, 90% of Kathariya ,, 51%–88% reported of Dangaura ,. Differences with dialects in India. Reportedly similar to Awadhi (Avadhi) ,. Lexical similarity: 83%–97% among dialects, 73%–79% with Buksa, 74%–79% with Kathariya ,, 70%–73% with Sonha ,, 63%–71% with Dangaura ,, 56%–60% with Chitwania ,, 68%–72% with Hindi ,.
Status Notes: Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Tharu.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 336,000 in Nepal (2006), increasing. Population for all Tharu varieties: 1,530,000 (2011 census). Population total all countries: 486,000. L2 users: 46,600 L2 speakers for all Tharu languages (1991 census).
Language Use: Vigorous. Home, friends, religion; mixed use: Work, education. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Hindi [hin], Nepali [npi].
Language Development: Mother-tongue multilingual education up to grade three in Kanchanpur. Taught in primary schools. Poetry. Magazines. Radio programs. Films. Videos.
Typology: SOV; postpositions; noun head final; 2 genders; content q-word in situ; 1 prefix, up to 2 suffixes; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; verbal affixation marks person and number; ergativity; tense (4 tenses: past, present, imminent future, irrealis future); passives and voice; nontonal; 28 consonant and 11 vowel phonemes.
Writing System: Devanagari
Nation of Origin: Nepal
Other Comments: Hindu, Christian.