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Ethnologue: Languages of the World
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Ethnologue > Web version > Country index > Asia > Nepal > Nubri

Nubri

A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3: kte

Population  2,000 (2001 census).
Region  Gandaki zone, North Gorkha District, Buri Gandaki River upper reaches, west of and including Prok village, between Himal Chuli and Manaslu Himal west and Ganesh Himal east. Sama considered regional center.
Language map  Western Nepal, reference number 79
Alternate names   Kutang Bhotia, Larkye
Dialects  Sama, Lho, Namrung, Prok. Only moderately intelligible with Kyirong Tibetan (74%). The most distinct variety reportedly spoken in Samdo village. Sama is somewhat divergent. Tsum reportedly not intelligible with Nubri. Lexical similarity: 78%–93% among dialects. Prok is more distinct. 71%–78% with Tsum, 66% to 74% with Kyirong Tibetan [kgy]; 67% with Dolpo [dre]; 65% with Lowa [loy], 59%–64% with Lhasa Tibetan [bod]; 64% with Olangchung Gola [gol] (Walungge) and Lhomi [lhm]; 61% with Helambu Sherpa [scp]; 57% with Jirel [jul]; 55% with Sherpa [xsr]; 21%–27% with Northern Ghale [ghh], 20% to 23% with Southern Ghale [ghe], 14%–31% with Kutang Ghale [ght], 14% with Eastern Gorkha Tamang [tge], Western Gurung [gvr], and Banspur Tamang.
Classification  Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central
Language use  Vigorous. Most domains. Positive attitude. Also use some Nepali [nep] or Tibetan [bod].
Language development  Literacy rate in L2: Below 10%. Most villages have primary schools.
Comments  Women from Prok marry men from Nubri area primarily and some from Kutang area. People trade with Gorkha District and Tibet. ‘Bhotia’ or ‘Bhote’ refers to people of Tibetan origin; in at least some contexts it is derogatory. Larke recognized as an official nationality. Swidden and peasant agriculturalists. Buddhist (Lamaist).