| Population |
48,000 in India (2007). Population total all countries: 52,830. |
| Region |
Sikkim, Dzongu District; West Bengal, Darjeeling District, Kalimpong. Also in Bhutan, Nepal. |
| Alternate names |
Lapche, Nünpa, Rong, Rongke, Rongpa |
| Dialects |
Ilammu, Tamsangmu, Rengjongmu. Classification still uncertain; has been classified both in Himalayan and Naga groups. |
| Classification |
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Lepcha |
| Language use |
Vigorous in Sikkim. In Sikkim, all ages. |
| Language development |
Literacy rate in L2: 66% in Sikkim. Taught in primary schools. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1989. |
| Writing system |
Lepcha (Róng) script. Tibetan script. |
| Comments |
A Scheduled Tribe. Lepcha is both language and name of people. Agriculturalists; pastoralists. Buddhist, Christian, Hindu. |
| Language name |
Lepcha |
| Population |
2,830 in Nepal (2001 census). Ethnic population: 3,660. |
| Region |
Mechi zone, Ilam District. |
| Language map |
Eastern Nepal, reference number 57
|
| Alternate names |
Lapche, Nünpa, Rong, Rongke, Rongpa |
| Dialects |
Ilammu, Tamsangmu, Rengjongmu. |
| Language use |
Many of the younger generation in Nepal speak Nepali [nep] as L1 and do not speak Lepcha. Mainly older adults. |
| Comments |
Linguistic position within Tibeto-Burman still under discussion. An official nationality. Agriculturalists; pastoralists. Buddhist. |
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