Tibetan, Central

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A language of China

ISO 639-3
bod
Alternate Names
Bhotia, Dbus, Dbusgtsang, Phoke, Tibetan, U, Wei, Weizang, Zang
Population

1,070,000 in China (1990 census). 570,000 Dbus, 460,000 Gtsang, 40,000 Mngahris out of 4,593,000 in the official nationality. Population total all countries: 1,172,940. 920,000 monolinguals.

Location

Xizang Province,Tibet Autonomous Region; some in Xinjiang Province.

Language Maps
Language Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Xizang Autonomous Region (Tibet) (1984, Ethnic Regional Autonomy Act, Articles 10 and 21). Language of recognized nationality: Tibetan.

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Bodish, Central Bodish, Central
Dialects

Dbus, Deqing Zang, Gtsang (Lhasa, Tsang), Mngahris (Ngari). In the exile community a so-called diaspora Tibetan has developed.

Typology

SOV; tonal, 4 tones.

Language Use

Vigorous. Speakers of other languages in the area can also speak Tibetan. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Mandarin Chinese [cmn], Narua [nru], Naxi [nxq]. Used as L2 by Boga’er Luoba [adi], Cuona Monba [twm], Darang Deng [mhu], Geman Deng [mxj], Horpa [ero], Jiarong [jya], Kangjia [kxs], Lisu [lis], Namuyi [nmy], Naxi [nxq], Northern Pumi [pmi], Northern Qiang [cng], Salar [slr], Shixing [sxg], Southern Pumi [pmj], Tshangla [tsj], Tu [mjg], Yidu Luoba [clk].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 30%. Motivation for literacy is high. Taught in primary and secondary schools. Magazines. Newspapers. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1948.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tibetan, Central
Writing

Marchen script [Marc]. Phags-pa script [Phag]. Tibetan script [Tibt], Uchen and Umed styles.

Other Comments

Xifan (Hsifan) and Bhotia are general terms for Tibetan. Probably includes many languages: Groma, Niarong, Lhomi, Panang, Sherpa, Tseku, Tinan Lahul. Nomads in central and northern Tibet in Phala on the 4,500-meter Chang Tang plateau are known as Drokba. They number around 500,000. Written Tibetan is reportedly based on a southern dialect. Buddhist (Lamaist), Muslim.

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