Chantyal
PrintA language of Nepal
ISO 639-3
Alternate Names
Chantel, Chantel Kham, Chentel, Chhantel, Khamkura
Population
2,000 (Noonan 1997), decreasing. No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 9,820 (2001 census).
Location
Dhaulagiri Zone, Myagdi district, Kali Gandaki river valley. Ethnic Chantel in Baglung district.
Language Maps
Language Status
6b (Threatened). Language of recognized nationality (2002, NFDIN Act, No. 20, Section 2C).
Classification
Language Use
Home, villages (Noonan 1996). Not used for singing. All also use Nepali [npi].
Language Development
Dictionary. Grammar.
Language Resources
Writing
Devanagari script, recently developed.
Some believe Chantyal will be replaced soon. Outsiders often regard it as Magar, but they claim a Thakuri origin (de Sales 1993). Much lexical borrowing from Nepali. Sometimes called Khamkura as are Kham languages, which can have a general meaning of local non-Nepali dialect. (Watters 2002). Traditional religion, Buddhist.