Choosing Between Two Nepali Notice Drafts
The ward office must issue a Nepali notice for a ward assembly. Two drafts are on the table. Draft A: “सबै वडाबासीहरुलाई हार्दिक निमन्त्रणा गरिन्छ। आउँदो २०८१ साल असार १५ गते बिहान ११ बजे वडा कार्यालयमा सभा हुने भएकोले उपस्थितिको लागि अनुरोध गरिन्छ।” Draft B: “सबै वडाबासीलाई हार्दिक निमन्त्रणा गरिन्छ। आउँदो २०८१ असार १५ गते बिहान ११ बजे वडा कार्यालयमा सभा हुने हुँदा उपस्थित हुन अनुरोध गरिन्छ।” The office chief prefers Draft A because it sounds “more respectful”; a junior officer prefers Draft B. The notice must be posted today. The assembly will discuss the ward’s annual budget. The office has a style note that official notices should be short, use standard Nepali, and avoid unnecessary plural markers. The ward has 1,200 voters; the notice will be posted at three places and read on a local FM station. The notice will be read aloud, so long sentences are a problem. The ward secretary is on leave, and the officer must act today.
1. Which draft should be issued, and why? Identify at least three specific language points.
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Draft B is preferable. (1) “वडाबासीहरुलाई” adds the plural marker “हरु” to a collective noun and also spells “हरुलाई” without the long ū; concise standard official Nepali uses “वडाबासीलाई”. (2) “२०८१ साल असार १५ गते” contains “साल”, which is redundant when the year is already given; “२०८१ असार १५ गते” is shorter and standard. (3) “उपस्थितिको लागि अनुरोध गरिन्छ” is not idiomatic: “उपस्थिति” means attendance, so “request for attendance” is awkward; “उपस्थित हुन अनुरोध गरिन्छ” is the natural construction. (4) “सभा हुने भएकोले” is acceptable but wordier than “सभा हुने हुँदा”. Draft A is not wrong in every respect, but it carries avoidable redundancy and a less idiomatic request. Respect in an official notice comes from courteous wording and clear information, not from adding plural markers.
2. Revise the chosen draft into a complete short notice. Include the addressee, date, venue, purpose and a request.
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वडा कार्यालय, वडा नं. ३
सूचना
सबै वडाबासीलाई हार्दिक जानकारी गराइन्छ कि आउँदो २०८१ असार १५ गते बिहान ११ बजे वडा कार्यालयमा वडाको वार्षिक बजेटसम्बन्धी सभा हुने हुँदा उपस्थित हुन अनुरोध गरिन्छ। सभामा वडाको आगामी आर्थिक वर्षको योजना र बजेटबारे छलफल हुनेछ। कृपया समयमै उपस्थित हुनुहोला।
वडा सचिव मिति: २०८१ असार १०
3. The chief says Draft A is “more respectful”. How should the officer respond without being insubordinate?
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Acknowledge the chief’s intention: both drafts are courteous, and the difference is not respect but standard usage. Explain with examples: “वडाबासीहरुलाई” adds a plural marker that standard official Nepali avoids; “उपस्थितिको लागि” is less natural than “उपस्थित हुन”; and “साल” is redundant after the year. Offer a compromise that keeps a respectful tone: “सबै वडाबासीलाई हार्दिक जानकारी गराइन्छ ... उपस्थित हुन अनुरोध गरिन्छ।” Say that this version is shorter, fits the FM reading, and avoids a grammar debate on the notice board. If the chief still prefers Draft A, ask whether the office’s style note should be revised; do not change the text silently. Record the final choice and the reason, so the office applies the same standard next time.