Monpa, Tawang

A language of India

ISO 639-3

twm

Alternate Names

Brahmi, Cuona Menba, Dwags, Monkit, Northern Monpa, Takpa, Tawan Monba

Population

8,600 in India. Population total all countries: 9,900.

Location

Arunachal Pradesh, Tawang district. Also in China (Cuona Monba).

Language Maps

India, Map 5

Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification

Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Bodish, East Bodish

Typology

Basic SOV

Language Use

Vigorous. Home, village, religion. Positive attitudes. Also use Hindi [hin].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 32% (2001 census).

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Monpa, Tawang

Writing

Devanagari script.

Other Comments

Glossonym: Tawan Monba in Tibet. Monpa (Moinba), ‘man of the lower country’, refers to several ethnically related peoples, which may not be related linguistically. Buddhist.

Also spoken in:

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China

Language nameMonba, Cuona

Population

1,300 in China (2000 census). Less than half monolingual: Young children, older people, some young adults. 600 Southern Cuona, 700 Northern Cuona.

Location

Southeast Tibetan Autonomous Region. Southern Cuona: Shannan prefecture, Cuona county, Lebu district; Northern Cuona: Linzhi prefecture, Motuo county, Dexing district, Wenlang village.

Alternate Names

Buruomiba, Cona Monba, Cuona Menba, Cuona Monpa, Dakpa, Dwags, Menba, Menpa, Moinba, Momba, Mompa, Monba, Monpa, Pramipa, Takpa, Tawan Monba

Dialects

Northern Cuona, Southern Cuona.

Status

6b (Threatened).

Language Use

Vigorous. All domains. All ages. Positive attitudes. Over half also use Central (Lhasa) Tibetan [bod]; about one-third are literate in Tibetan script. Few understand Chinese or are literate in Chinese script. Classical Tibetan used for recitation of Buddhist Scriptures.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 44% (2000 census, Monba nationality). Most are literate in Tibetan [bod].

Other Comments

Officially classified within Monba nationality, along with Tshangla [tsj] (7,000). Cuona Monba [twm] differs from Tshangla in phonology, vocabulary, and grammar, and is not mutually intelligible. Shares many Tibetan language characteristics. Is the same as, or closely related to, Bumthangkha of Bhutan. May also be classified as North Assam, Monpa. Buddhist (Lamaist).

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Monpa, Tawang

A language of India

Also spoken in:

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Monpa, Tawang

A language of India

Also spoken in: