Languages of Bhutan

[adp]  South central, Wangdue Phodrang District, from Damphu to Shemgang, Ada village. Dialects: Lexical similarity: 77% with Dzongkha [dzo], 62%–65% with Bumthangkha [kjz], 41% with Tshangla [tsj].  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Southern 
More information.

[bro] 300 (Van Driem 1993). Central Bumthang District, Dur. Alternate names: Brokskad, Jokay.  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Southern 
More information.

[sgt] 5,000 (2006). 2,000 in Mera area, 3,000 Sagteng area. Trashigang District, Sakteng Valley east, mainly in Merak and Sakteng villages. Alternate names: Brokpa, Dakpa, Damilo, Dap, Drokpakay, Jobikha, Mera Sagtengpa, Meragsagstengkha, Mira Sagtengpa, Sagtengpa.  Dialects: Related to Tawang Monpa [twm].  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Southern 
More information.

[kjz] 36,500 (2006). Central Bhutan, Bumthang, Mangdi District around Tongsa in Mangdikha; northeast border of Kurto in Tsamangkha on the east; Yangtse District in Salabekha; Tawang; southeast Tibet. Alternate names: Bhumtam, Bumtang, Bumtangkha, Bumtanp, Bumthang, Bumthapkha, Kebumtamp.  Dialects: Ura, Tang, Chogor, Chunmat. Some northern varieties of Khengkha [xkf] and some southern varieties of Bumthangkha are reported by one source to likely be mutually intelligible. Tawang Monpa [twm] in India (Tawan Monba in China) is the same as, or closely related to, Bumthangkha. Lexical similarity: 92% with Khengkha, 47%–52% with Dzongkha [dzo], 62%–65% with Adap [adp], 40%–50% with Tshangla [tsj], 75%–77% with Nyenkha [neh], 70%–73% with Kurtokha [xkz].  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Eastern 
More information.

[tgf] 8,200 (2006). East Bhutan Mongar District, Chali area, east bank of Kurichhu River; central and eastern Bhutan in Wangmakhar, Gorsum and Tormazhong villages. Alternate names: Chali, Chalipkha, Tshali, Tshalingpa.  Dialects: Related to Bumthangkha [kjz] and Kurtokha [xkz].  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Eastern 
More information.

[cgk] 20,000 (Van Driem 1993). Mongar District, lower areas east of Dzongkha, Tsamang and Tsakaling; Lhuntsi District, Kurmet; Kurmey, Jarey, Tamochhu, Lingmithang, Thridangbi, Minje, Tormazhog, Autsho, Karmashangshang, Gorgen, Budur, Kupinyelsa. Alternate names: Kursmadkha, Maphekha, Rtsamangpa’ikha, Tsagkaglingpa’ikha.  Dialects: Related to Dzongkha [dzo].  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Southern 
More information.

[dka] 1,000 (Van Driem 1993). NorthTashigang District, near Brokpake, in Chaleng, Phongmey, Yobinang, Dangpholeng and Lengkhar near Radhi. Dialects: May be dialect of Brokpake [sgt]. Has been influenced by Dzalakha [dzl], and Brokpake has not.  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Eastern 
More information.

[dzl] 68,400 (2006). East Lhuntsi and Tashiyangtse districts. Alternate names: Dzalamat, Yangtsebikha.  Dialects: Khomakha.  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Unclassified 
More information.

[dzo] 160,000 in Bhutan (2006). Population total all countries: 171,300. Ha, Paru, Punakha districts. Also in India, Nepal. Alternate names: Bhotia of Bhutan, Bhotia of Dukpa, Bhutanese, Drukha, Drukke, Dukpa, Jonkha, Rdzongkha, Zongkhar.  Dialects: Wang-The (Thimphu-Punakha), Ha, Northern Thimphu. As different from Central Tibetan [bod] as Nepali [nep] is from Hindi. Partially intelligible with Sikkimese [sip] (Drenjoke). Dialects may be separate languages. Lexical similarity: 48% with Tshangla [tsj], 47% to 52% with Bumthangkha [kjz], 77% with Adap [adp].  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Southern 
More information.

[goe] 2,100 (2006). East Bhutan, Mongar District, Gongdu Gewog; Dagsa, Damkhar, Pangthang, Pam, Yangbari, Bala. Alternate names: Gongdubikha.  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan 
More information.

[xkf] 50,000 (2003 SIL). 60% monolinguals. Zhemgang, Mongar districts; near Bumthangkha. Middle Kheng in Northwest Zhemgang; Upper Khen northeast of Zhemgang; also Mongar District; Lower Kheng in southern Zhemgang. Alternate names: Ken, Keng, Kenkha, Khen, Khenkha, Kyengkha.  Dialects: Middle Kheng, Upper Kheng, Lower Kheng. Bumthangkha [kjz] most similar related language. Comprehension of Bumthangkha not sufficient for complex discourse. Comprehend Kurtokha [xkz] with difficulty. Lexical similarity: 75%–85% with Bumthangkha, 70% with Kurtokha and Nyengkha [neh], 65% with Adap [adp], 34% with Dzongkha [dzo], 40% with Tshangla [tsj], and 75%–100% between dialects.  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Eastern 
More information.

[xkz] 10,000 (Van Driem 1993). Northwest Lhuntsi District, especially Kurto. Bounded by Kurichhu River east and north, Tangmachhu village south and Rodula Pass west. Alternate names: Gurtü, Kurteopkha, Kürthöpka, Kurthopkha, Kurtobikha, Kurtopakha.  Dialects: Related to Bumthangkha [kjz], Khengkha [xkf]. Lexical similarity: 69% with Nyengkha [neh], 70% to 73% with Bumthangkha, 66%–74% with Khengkha.  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Eastern 
More information.

[kru] 4,200 in Bhutan (2002).  Alternate names: Kurukh, Oraoan, Uraon.  Classification: Dravidian, Northern 
More information.

[lkh] 8,000 (Van Driem 1993).  Alternate names: Tshangkha.  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Southern 
More information.

[lya] 1,100 (2003). North Punakha District, around Laya; Gasa District; Thimphu District, Lingzhi gewog. Dialects: Similar to Dzongkha [dzo], but many divergent grammatical features significantly limit mutual intelligibility. Spoken by Layabs, alpine yakherds in northern Bhutan, and Lingzhibs in Western Bhutan.  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Southern 
More information.

[lep] 2,000 in Bhutan (2006). West and south lower valleys. Alternate names: Lapcha, Nünpa, Rong, Rongke, Rongpa.  Dialects: Ilammu, Tamsangmu, Rengjongmu.  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Lepcha 
More information.

[lhp] 2,500 (Van Driem 1993). Southwest Bhutan, Samtsi District between Samtsi and Phuntsoling; Taba Damtey, Loto Kuchu, Sanglong, Sataka, and Lotu villages. Alternate names: Lhobikha, Taba-Damey-Bikha.  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan 
More information.

[luk] 700 (1998). Punakha District, north, northeast quadrant, Lunana, on Pho Chhu River north from Punakha, right fork halfway up the valley. Dialects: Similar to Dzongkha [dzo], but many divergent grammatical features limit intelligibility between them.  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Southern 
More information.

[nep] 265,000 in Bhutan (2006). Foothills the entire length of Bhutan, especially south central. Alternate names: Eastern Pahari, Gorkhali, Gurkhali, Khaskura, Lhotshammikha, Nepalese, Parbatiya.  Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Northern zone, Eastern Pahari 
More information.

[npb] 2,200 (2006). Trongsa area. Alternate names: Trongsakha.  Dialects: Related to Bumthangkha [kjz]. Phonological similarities to Khengkha [xkf].  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Eastern 
More information.

[neh] 10,000 (Van Driem 1993). Mangdi (Tongsa) District, Tongsa town Sephu Geo area; Black River passes below their villages: Taktse, Usar and Tashidingkha, Phobjikha, Ridha, Dangchhu; surrounding hamlets SE of Wangdiphodrang District. Alternate names: Henkha, Lap, Mangsdekha.  Dialects: Phobjikha, Chutobikha. Related to Bumthangkha [kjz]. Lexical similarity: 69% with Kurtokha [xkz], 75%-77% with Bumthangkha, 65%–78% with Khengkha [xkf].  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Eastern 
More information.

[ole] 1,000 (Van Driem 1993). 5 villages: Adha, Rukha, Wangling, Jangji, Thrumzur. The 2 dialects are separated by the Black Mountains. Alternate names: Black Mountain Language, Monkha, Monpa, Ole Mönpa.  Dialects: Retained complex verbal system of Proto-Tibeto-Burman.  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Eastern 
More information.

[bod] 4,800 in Bhutan (2006).  Alternate names: Bhokha, Byokha.  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central 
More information.

[tsk] 6,400 in Bhutan (2006).  Alternate names: Tsuku, Tzuku.  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central 
More information.

[tsj] 157,000 in Bhutan. The lower population estimate of 140,000 is nearer the official number given by the government and also keeps the total population of the country closer to the total of 672,425. Population total all countries: 175,200. East and southeast Bhutan, especially Tashigang and Dungsam. Also in China, India. Alternate names: Menba, Monpa, Sangla, Sarchapkkha, Shachobiikha, Shachopkha, Sharchagpakha, Sharchhop-kha, Tsangla, Tshalingpa.  Dialects: Standard variety in Tashigang. Lexical similarity: 40%–50% with Bumthangkha [kjz], 48% with Dzongkha [dzo], 41% with Adap [adp].  Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Bodish, Tshangla 
More information.