bhāsā

speech, language, esp. vernacular, dialect Ja.iv.279 (manussa˚ human speech), Ja.iv.392 (caṇḍāla˚); Kp-a.101 (saka-saka˚-anurūpa); Snp-a.397 (Milakkha˚); DN-a.i.176 (Kirātā-Yavanâdi-Millakkhānaṃ bhāsā); MN-a.i.1 (Sīhaḷa˚); Vb-a.388 (18 dialects of which 5 are mentioned; besides the Māgadhabhāsā).

cp. Epic Sk. bhāṣā