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Limbu

A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3: lif

Population	334,000 in Nepal (2001 census). Population total all countries: 421,500.
Region	Limbuwan (preferred term for the Limbu area), Eastern hills, east of Arun River; Koshi zone, Dhankuta, Sankhuwasabha, Terhathum, Dhankuta, and Morang districts; Mechi zone, Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, and Jhapa districts. Possibly migrant workers in Myanmar. Also in Bhutan, India.
Language map	Eastern Nepal, reference number 59
Alternate names	Yakthung Pan
Dialects	Taplejunge (Tamorkhole, Taplejung), Panthare (Pantharey, Panchthare, Panchthar, Panthare-Yanggrokke-Chaubise-Charkhole), Phedappe, Chattare (Chhattare, Chhathar, Chatthare, Chatthare Yakthungba Pan, Yakthung Pan). Related to Northern Lorung [lbr] and Yakha [ybh]. Chaubise and Panthare dialects are similar; Phedappe and Taplejunge are similar. Chattare is poorly understood by other dialect speakers. The dialect spoken in Sikkim, India, is same as Panthare. Inherent intelligibility among dialect speakers 80%–90%. Lexical similarity: above 80% among the dialects.
Classification	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Mahakiranti, Kiranti, Eastern
Language use	Vigorous. A main group in eastern Nepal. Home, village, religious services. All ages. Positive attitude. Panthare dialect is dominant in size, prestige, and language development. People prefer their own dialect, but are not negative toward others. Some also use Nepali [nep].
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: 1% in Sirijangga script, 40% in Devanagari. Literacy rate in L2: 47% among the Limbu ethnic group (1991 census). Motivation high among all. It would be easier to read Limbu in Devanagari, but attitudes strongly positive toward Sirijannga script being taught. Literacy programs in progress to teach Sirijangga script (2007). Poetry. Magazines. Newspapers. Radio programs. TV. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 1996–2003.
Writing system	Devanagari script. Latin script. Limbu script.
Comments	Common Limbu is called Tajengpan. The priestly high language, also known by some older people, is called Mundumban. Limbu is recognized as an official nationality. SOV; postpositions; genitives, articles, adjectives, numerals before noun heads; content question word initial; bipolar question word final; maximum of 3 prefixes, 6 suffixes; affixes indicate case of noun phrases; verb affixes mark subjects, objects, indirect objects—obligatory; split ergativity; reflexes conjugated intrasitively can be used as a kind of passive; antipassives; causatives; comparatives; V, CV, CVC, CCV, CCVC; nontonal. Peasant agriculturalists. Kiranti traditional religion.

Also spoken in:

India

Language name	Limbu
Population	24,000 in India (2007). Ethnic population: 143,792.
Region	Sikkim, West District; West Bengal, Darjeeling District; Assam.
Alternate names	Limbo, Lumbu
Comments	Traditional religion mixed with Buddhism and Hinduism.

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.

HALE, Austin; HANNEMAN, Charles B., authors. Available: 2010; Created: 1972. On the form of verbal bases in Limbu.

TUMBAHANG, Govinda Bahadur; WATTERS, David E., authors. 2012. A problem of phonological representation in Chhathare Limbu.

WEBSTER, Jeffrey D., author. 1999. "The language development-language promotion tension: a case study from Limbu."

WEBSTER, Jeffrey D., author. 2000. "Guidelines for script standardization."

WEBSTER, Jeffrey D., author. 2000. "Guidelines for script standardization."

WEBSTER, Jeffrey D., author. 2001. "A sociolinguistic study of Limbu."