Khasa Prakrit | |
---|---|
खश, खष, खशीर | |
Native to | Khasa Kingdom |
Region | Indian subcontinent |
Ethnicity | Khasas |
Indo-European
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | – |
Glottolog | None |
Khasa Prakrit (also known as Khas Prakrit, Sanskrit Khasa, Himalayan Prakrit, Northern Prakrit, Khas Kura) is a Prakrit language of medieval South Asia and a common ancestor language of the Pahari languages, which includes Nepali, Kumaoni, Jaunsari, Mandeali, Kangri and Garhwali languages.[1][2] It was commonly referred to as खश (Khaśa), खष (Khaṣa), and खशीर (khaśīra) in the Sanskrit texts.
Indian linguist Suniti Kumar Chatterji suggests that Nepali language developed from Khasa Prakrit.[3] Khas Prakrit is named after the speakers of language, Khas people, who live in the Himalayas.[4]