Chamling

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A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3
rab
Alternate Names
Camling, Chamlinge Rai, Rodong
Population

12,100 in Nepal (2006), decreasing. Very few monolinguals.

Location

East, Sagarmatha Zone, mainly central Khotang district and northern Udayapur districts. Also in India.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened). Language of recognized nationality (2002, NFDIN Act, No. 20, Section 2C), Rai nationality.

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

Balamtali, Halesi, Ratanchhali. Ratanchhali and Halesi dialects are similar to each other but Balamtali is very different. Most similar to Bantawa [bap] and Puma [pum] linguistically. Many speak a variety mixed with Nepali [npi].

Typology

SOV; postpositions; noun head final; no noun classes or genders; content q-word in situ; up to 2 prefixes, up to 7 suffixes; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; verbal affixation marks person and number; split and inverse ergativity; mixed tense-aspect; no passives or voice; nontonal; 28 consonant and 5 vowel phonemes

Language Use

Home, religion; mixed use: friends, work. All ages.

Language Development
Poetry. Magazines. Radio programs. Films. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chamling
Writing
Devanagari script, recently developed.
Other Comments

Many ethnic subgroups, but linguistically homogeneous. Traditional religion, Hindu, Christian.

Also spoken in:

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