The article focuses on demographic aspects of Nepali language. However, the author argues that it seems relevant to commence with semantics of some Nepali terms relating to language. The first refers to the variation between bhasha in written form and kura in colloquial speech for language or dialect. The second is the difference in pronunciation whereby bhasha means language or dialect while its vernacular form bhakha means tune or tone. Thirdly, Nepalese languages remain unclassified as to their status as language or dialect despite the use of such terms as bhasha for the former and bhashika for the latter. The article includes 3 pages of maps of Nepal, mainly linguistic maps. (Rajeev Ranjan Singh 2007-03-05)