Dumi

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A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3
dus
Alternate Names
Dumi Bo’o, Dumi Bro, Hopupo Bro, Lsi Rai, Ro’do Bo’, Sotmali
Population

2,500 (2009 Isilim magazine), decreasing. No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 12,000.

Location

Sagarmatha Zone, north Khotang district, Makpa, Jalapa, Baksila, Sapteshwor, and Kharmi VDCs.

Language Maps
Language Status

7 (Shifting). Language of recognized nationality (2002, NFDIN Act, No. 20, Section 2C), Rai nationality.

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

Kharbari, Lamdija, Makpa. Most similar to Khaling [klr] and Koi [kkt]. Makpa dialect is markedly divergent.

Typology

SVO; postpositions; noun head final; no noun classes or genders; content q-word in situ; 1 prefix, unknown number of suffixes; verbal affixation marks person and number; ergativity; nontonal; 25 consonant and 14 vowel phonemes

Language Use

Pressure to shift to Nepali [npi] in education and communication with outsiders is strong. Few parents teach Dumi to their children or encourage their children to use their language. Home, religion. Mixed use: Friends, work. Young adults and older. Some use among children and adolescents. Most are bilingual in neighboring local languages, then in Nepali [npi].

Language Development
Poetry. Magazines. Dictionary. Grammar.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dumi
Writing
Devanagari script.
Other Comments

Efforts have been made by some to preserve the language by creating written materials. Traditional religion, Hindu, Christian.