LEPCHA: a language of India

The following is the entry for this language as it appeared in the 14th edition (2000).
It was superseded by the corresponding entry in the 15th edition (2005). See also the corresponding entry in the current edition of Ethnologue.

SIL code: LEP

ISO 639-2: sit

Population	38,000 in India (1997 IMA). Population total all countries 41,300.
Region	Sikkim, Dzongu District; West Bengal, Darjeeling District, Kalimpong. Also spoken in Bhutan, Nepal.
Alternate names	LAPCHE, RONG, RONGKE, RONGPA, NÜNPA
Dialects	ILAMMU, TAMSANGMU, RENGJONGMU.
Classification	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Lepcha.
Comments	Has been classified both in Himalayan and Naga groups. Classification still uncertain. Sikkim, all ages. Some younger generation speak Nepali as mother tongue. Vigorous in Sikkim. A Scheduled Tribe in India. 'Lepcha' is the name of both people and language. Has own script. Language of instruction in some schools in Sikkim. Agriculturalists, pastoralists. Up to 4,000 feet. Buddhist. NT 1989.

Also spoken in:

Bhutan

Language name	LEPCHA
Population	2,000 in Bhutan (1993 Van Driem).
Alternate names	LAPCHE, RONG, RONGKE, RONGPA, NÜNPA
Dialects	ILAMMU, TAMSANGMU, RENGJONGMU.
Comments	Agriculturalists, pastoralists. Buddhist. NT 1989. See main entry under India.

Nepal

Language name	LEPCHA
Population	1,272 in Nepal (1961 census).
Alternate names	RONG, RONGKE, LAPCHE, RONGPA, NÜNPA
Dialects	ILAMMU, TAMSANGMU, RENGJONGMU.
Comments	Many of the younger generation in Nepal speak Nepali as mother tongue, and do not speak Lepcha. Linguistic position within Tibeto-Burman still under discussion. Agriculturalists, pastoralists. Buddhist. NT 1989. See main entry under India.