Ethnologue.com home

Ethnologue: Languages of the World
16th edition

Ethnologue: Languages of the World
US$ 100.00
Add to cart

Preview print edition

Most Recent
SIL Publications
Reduced Price SIL Publications


ABOUT SSL CERTIFICATES
Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > Nepal > Athpariya

Athpariya

A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3: aph

Population  2,000 (1995 K. Ebert), decreasing. 439,312 all Rai languages (1991 census).
Region  Kosi zone, Dhankuta District, north of the Tamur, between the Dhankutakhola in the west and the Tangkhuwa in the east; Dhankuta and Bhirgaon panchayats.
Language map  Eastern Nepal, reference number 1
Alternate names   Arthare, Arthare-Khesang, Ath Paharia Rai, Athapre, Athpare, Athpre, Jamindar Rai
Dialects  Athpare [byw] from Dhankuta and Belhara are very similar, but not mutually inherently intelligible (Bickel 1996). Reportedly similar to Limbu [lif], but not inherently intelligible with it. The term ‘Kiranti’ covers about 21 speech varieties, of which fewer than half are even partially mutually intelligible.
Classification  Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern
Language use  Shifting to Nepali [nep].
Language development  Literacy rate in L2: 2%. Grammar.
Writing system  Devanagari script.
Comments  ‘Athpare’ refers to the ethnic unit formed by close cultural ties between the Belhare and the autochthonous inhabitants of neighboring Dhankuta bazaar. People from each recognize the linguistic difference and distinguish them by calling the Dhankuta people ‘Noupagari’ and the Belhare people ‘Athpagari’ (Bickel 1996). ‘Rai’ and ‘Kiranti’ are partially overlapping terms and subject to many interpretations. SOV; postpositions; genitives, adjectives, numerals before noun heads; polar questions marked with a suffix attached to the verb sentence final; content questions can have the same word order as assertive sentences, or the question word occurs directly before the verb; maximum number of suffixes 9; affixes indicate case of noun phrase; verb affixes mark person, number, object—obligatory; split ergative; comparatives with Nepali ‘Bhanda’; CV, CVC, CVCC; nontonal. Agriculturalists; animal husbandry; petty trade; labor. Hindu, Buddhist, syncretism with traditional religion.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

CAUGHLEY, Ross C., author. 1996. Review of: The structure of Kiranti languages: comparative grammar and texts, by Karen Ebert.

GLOVER, Warren W.; YADAVA, Yogendra P., editors. 1999. Topics in Nepalese linguistics.