Sikkimese

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
sip
Alternate Names
Dandzongka, Danjongka, Danyouka, Denjong, Denjongkha, Denjongpa, Denjonka, Denjonke, Lachengpa, Lachungpa, Sikami, Sikkim Bhotia, Sikkim Bhutia
Population

70,300 (2001).

Location

Sikkim, all districts; West Bengal, Darjeeling. Possibly in Tibet.

Language Maps
Language Status

4 (Educational).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Bodish, Central Bodish, Central, Southern
Dialects

Partially intelligible of Dzongkha [dzo] of Bhutan. Lexical similarity: 65% with Dzongkha [dzo] of Bhutan, 42% with Tibetan [bod].

Language Use

Vigorous. Positive attitudes. Also use Nepali [npi] for education and trade; some also use Tibetan [bod] which is viewed as appropriate for religion.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 68% for Bhutia in Sikkim (2001 census). Taught in primary schools.
Writing
Tibetan script.
Other Comments

Buddhist.