Helambu Sherpa
PrintA language of Nepal
3,990 (2001 census). Very few monolinguals.
Bagmati Zone, northern Nuwakot and northwestern Sindhupalchok districts.
5 (Developing). Language of recognized nationality (2002, NFDIN Act, No. 20, Section 2C).
Eastern Helambu Sherpa, Lamjung Yohlmo, LangDang Yohlmo, Western Helambu Sherpa. Melamchi river divides dialects. Understand other dialects even for abstract and complex subjects, including possibly Tarke Ghyang, Kahng-Kharka, Pahndang, but not Kagate [syw]. Lexical similarity: 66% with Dolpo [dre] and Walungge [ola]; 65% with Lhasa Tibetan [bod], Jirel [jul], and Kyerung (Kyirong) [kgy]; 63% with Loke [loy] and Sherpa [xsr]; 61% with Nubri [kte]; 60% with Lhomi [lhm].
SOV; postpositions; head noun initial; genitives, relatives before noun heads; articles, adjectives, numerals mostly after noun heads; no noun classes or genders; content q-word is usually the second word in the clause; maximum number of prefixes 1; maximum number of suffixes 4; clause constituents indicated primarily by case-marking, but word order distinguishes subject, object, indirect object some, but normally marked by postpositions; case of noun phrase indicated by postposition; split ergativity; rich system of tense and aspect; no passives or voice; causatives; comparatives; CV, CVC, CVV, CCV, CCVV, CVVC; tonal (4 tones); 36 consonant and 10 vowel phonemes
Home; mixed use: Friends, religion, work. Older adults and elderly. Some use among children, adolescents, and young adults. Also use Nepali [npi], Tibetan [bod], or Hindi [hin]. More prestigious and has more original culture preserved than Kagate [syw]. Shermathang-Chhimi area and east is prestigious. Many lamas live there. Not much contact with Kagate. Nepali [npi] viewed as useful.
They go to northern India as laborers or resettle in Kathmandu or in India. Buddhist (Lamaist), traditional religion, Christian.