Bahing

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A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3
bhj
Alternate Names
Baying, Bayung, Kiranti-Bayung
Population

12,600 (Lee et al. 2005).

Location

Sagarmatha Zone, northeast Okhaldhunga district, Harkapur, Ragdip, Bigutar, Baruneswor, Okhaldhunga, Rumjatar, Barnalu, Mamkha, Ratmate, Serna, Diyale, and Bhadaure VDCs (Rumdali dialect); mid southeastern Okhaldhunga district, Ketuke, Moli, Waksa, and Ubu VDCs (Tolocha dialect); Solukhumbu district south tip, Necha Batase and Sallyan VDCs; Khotang district; Kathmandu.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Himalayan, Kiranti, Western
Dialects

Hangu, Moblocha, Nechali, Rumdali, Tolacha. 85% or above intelligibility among all dialects. Rumdali is best understood among all Bahing dialects (Lee et al 2005); Bahing is more homogeneous than most Kiranti languages. Related to Sunwar [suz]. Lexical similarity: 83%–95% with dialects, 48% with Sunwar [suz] (Lee et al 2005).

Typology

SOV

Language Use

Reportedly still used often by younger generation. Shift to Nepali [npi] relatively low (Winter and Hanson 1991); High vitality (Lee et al. 2005). Home, friends, religion, work. All ages. Positive attitudes. 40% have inadequate Nepali [npi] proficiency to understand or discuss complicated or abstract concepts. (Lee et al. 2005).

Language Development
Bahing orthography introduced through community-based development efforts. Two books published (2009). Bahing orthography being promoted for use by the whole Bahing community. Poetry. Magazines. Radio programs. Dictionary.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Bahing
Writing
Devanagari script. Latin script.
Other Comments

Traditional religion, Hindu, Christian.