जुम्ली — Jumli Scripture Portions (Nepal)
Overview
जुम्ली (Jumli) is an 8-book scripture collection in the Jumli language of Jumla District, western Nepal, published by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. and available via YouVersion/Bible.com (ID 4008). Jumli (autonym: Central Nepali) is a regional variety of the Pahadi/Nepali dialect continuum spoken in the remote Karnali highlands. The autonym "Central Nepali" reflects the community's self-perception as speakers of a central/authentic form of Nepali, distinct from the eastern hill varieties. The 8-book scripture collection represents the first scripture specifically adapted for the Jumli dialect community, who while largely literate in standard Nepali may find scripture in their own variety more natural and meaningful.
Language and People
Jumli (ISO 639-3: jml; autonym: Central Nepali, also called Jumli Nepali or Khasali) is an Indo-European language: Indo-European → Indo-Iranian → Indo-Aryan → Pahari (Pahadi) → Central Pahadi. Jumli is a variety of the Pahari dialect continuum that runs from Kumaoni and Garhwali in India through to standard Nepali. Jumli shares extensive vocabulary with standard Nepali (npi) but has distinct phonological features, including retention of some archaic Indo-Aryan forms. It is written in the Devanagari script.
The Jumli community inhabits:
- Jumla District, Karnali Province (formerly Karnali Zone), western Nepal — the Karnali River valley at ~2,300–2,500 m elevation
- Surrounding districts of Karnali Province: Kalikot, Mugu, Humla, and Dolpa
- Small diaspora communities in Surkhet, Nepalgunj, and Kathmandu
Estimated speakers: approximately 50,000–100,000 Jumli-variety speakers (Karnali Province has ~300,000 total population, with Jumli being the dominant language variety of the district).
Cultural Context
Jumla District is one of Nepal's most remote areas — historically accessible only by foot trails for months of the year (the Surkhet-Jumla road opened to jeep traffic only in the early 21st century, and the airport at Jumla handles small aircraft to Nepalgunj and Kathmandu). The region is known for its distinctive red rice (marsi) cultivation, which thrives at high altitude; Jumla red rice is recognized as a geographically specific agricultural heritage product. The area was historically part of the Khasa Kingdom (Malla dynasty, 9th–14th century), which produced some of Nepal's earliest dated stone inscriptions. Karnali Province has Nepal's highest poverty rates and the most limited access to development services. The isolation of Jumla and surrounding Karnali districts has preserved regional language distinctiveness, making the Jumli dialect a living variety that a scripture portion specifically adapted to it can meaningfully serve.
Publishing and Organizations
Published by Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc. in partnership with Wycliffe Nepal.