Naaba

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A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3
nao
Alternate Names
Naapa, Naapaa, Naba, Nawa Sherpa
Population

770 (2006).

Location

Koshi Zone, Sankhuwasabha district, Kimathanka VDC, Kimathanka village; Hatiya VDC, Dangok and Pharang villages; Piibu, Chumusur, and Ridak villages; Tsanga village, across the border in China.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Bodish, Central Bodish, Unclassified
Typology

SOV; postpositions; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; ergativity; no passives or voice; tonal

Language Use

All ages. Inhabitants of Pharang and Dangok also use Lhomi [lhm].

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Naaba
Writing
Unwritten.
Other Comments

The Lhomi [lhm] consider the Naaba people a distinct group. The Naaba have learned Lhomi as a language of wider communication, but are more culturally and linguistically similar to Sherpa [xsr] and Thudam [thw] than to Lhomi. Buddhist.