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 > Dolpo

Dolpo

A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3: dre

Population  9,000 (2003). 5,000 monolinguals (2003).
Region  Karnali zone, north Dolpa District, villages of Goomatara, Kola, Tachel, Kani, Bajebara, Laun, Chilpara, Bantari, Byas, above Dolpa up to Tibet. Beyond the mountains west of upper Kali Gandaki River Valley. Confined by the Dhaulagire Himal on the south and Tibet on the north. Includes the headwaters of Karnali River. About 24 small villages in Namgang, Panzgang, Tarap, and Chharbung subdistricts.
Language map  Western Nepal, reference number 27
Alternate names   Dolpa Tibetan, Dolpike, Phoke Dolpa
Dialects  Dho Tarap, Phoksumdo Lake, Barbung River, and Charka-Dolpo Chu River areas are slightly different, but inherent intelligibility is very good. Most similar language is Lowa [loy]. Dho Tarap reportedly understood best by all speakers. Reportedly similar to Tichurong [tcn]. Lexical similarity: 78% with Lowa [loy]; 69% with Lhomi [lhm]; 68% with Lhasa Tibetan [bod], Walungge [ola], and Kyerung [kgy]; 67% with Nubri [kte]; 66% with Helambu Sherpa [scp]; 62% with Jirel [jul] and Sherpa [xsr].
Classification  Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central
Language use  Home. Dho Tarap speech may have highest prestige. Many men and few women also use Tibetan [bod]. Nepali [nep] and Lowa [loy] are also used by some.
Writing system  Tibetan script.
Comments  An official nationality. SOV. Agriculturalists: local consumption only; pastoralists: local homes, but some members may be away tending herds 10 months every year. Buddhist, Bonpo.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

KOPP, Kevin A., author. 2011. "Plural marking in Dolpo Tibetan: A preliminary investigation."  Available online