Letter Writing and Applied Writing: Format and Functional Register
Letter Writing and Applied Writing tests functional Nepali: personal letters, formal letters, applications, notices, complaints, and requests. The exam rewards correct format, appropriate register, concise purpose, and standard Nepali. Content matters, but format errors cost disproportionately.
Core rules
- Personal letter (निजी चिठी): sender’s address and date, affectionate salutation, informal body, closing. Keep tone warm but coherent.
- Formal letter/application (औपचारिक पत्र/निवेदन): sender’s address, date, receiver’s designation and address, subject (विषय), salutation, body, closing, signature.
- State the purpose in the first two lines: “यसै पत्रद्वारा … अनुरोध गर्दछु।”
- Use one request per application; supply relevant facts (class, roll number, dates) but omit personal gossip.
- For notices (सूचना), include heading, date, issuing authority, event details, and contact/venue.
Worked example
Task: apply to the principal for library books. Reasoning: formal register, subject “पुस्तकालयबाट पुस्तक माग गर्ने सम्बन्धमा,” brief self-identification, specific titles or subjects, promise to return on time, polite closing. A strong body reads: “म कक्षा … को विद्यार्थी हुँ। मलाई … विषयका पुस्तक आवश्यक छन्। कृपया … उपलब्ध गराइदिनुहोस्।” Avoid “मलाई पुस्तक चाहियो” as the whole request.
Traps
Wrong salutation; missing subject or date; mixing “तिमी” into a formal letter; writing an essay instead of a letter; forgetting the signature; and vague requests with no details.
Exam habit
Before writing, sketch the skeleton: address/date/subject/salutation/body/closing. Then fill it.