Kham, Gamale

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A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3
kgj
Alternate Names
Gamale
Population

13,100 (2000), increasing.

Location

Rapti Zone, Rolpa district, Gam Khola, western hills, Gam, Jhyalgung, Chalbang, Tamali, Dangadhara, Sheram, Ghusbang, Huiching, Guwakholagau, Maulabang, and Kuipadhara villages.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Himalayan, Central Himalayan, Kham-Magar, Kham
Dialects

Ghusbanggi, Tamali. Only 30% intelligibility with Western Parbate [kjl] due to radical differences in verbal morphology. Lexical similarity: 71% with Western Parbate (most similar) [kjl], 55% with Eastern Parbate [kif] and Sheshi [kip], 45% with Bhujel [kif].

Typology

SOV; postpositions; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; verbal affixation marks person and gender; passives and voice; tonal

Language Use

Vigorous in the villages. Home, friends, work; mixed use: Religion. All ages. Positive attitudes. Younger generation uses some Nepali [npi].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kham, Gamale
Writing
Devanagari script.
Other Comments

Traditional religion, Hindu, Christian.