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

Lowa

A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3: loy

Population  7,500 (2001 census). 5,000 Upper Mustang and 2,500 Baragaunle.
Region  Dhaulagiri zone, Mustang District, north central upper Kali Gandaki River area; high valleys north of the middle-range Thakali, Gurung and Magar areas. Bahragaun in Kagbeni, Muktinath, Dzong VDCs; Upper Mustang in Ghimi, Tsarang, Lo Monthang, Surkhang, Chhosher, Chunnup VDCs, and Samar village in Chuksang VDC, a few in Karnali zone, Dolpa District.
Language map  Western Nepal, reference number 61
Alternate names   Glo Skad, Lo Montang, Loba, Lopa, Loyu, Mustangi
Dialects  Baragaunle (Baragaun, Baragaon, Bhoti Gurung), Upper Mustang (Lowa). Similar to Dolpo [dre]. High intelligibility between dialects reported. Lexical similarity: 79%–88% between dialects, 59%–71% with Dolpo, 54%–57% with Lhasa Tibetan [bod], 58%–67% with Mugom [muk].
Classification  Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tibetan, Central
Language use  Some young people have had whole education outside the language area and may not be able to speak Lowa. Home, village, religion. Spoken with Seke [skj] and Dolpo [dre]. All ages. Positive attitude. Also use Nepali [nep] or Tibetan [bod].
Language development  Literacy rate in L2: 41% for whole district, includes Thakalis, Nepalis. (males 57%, females 28%). Grammar.
Writing system  Tibetan script.
Comments  Distinct from Lhoba in China and India, a Mirish language. Lo inhabitants are called Lopa. Their capital is Manthang, called ‘Mustang’ by outsiders. Manthang has 200 houses, many gombas. Lhopa is recognized as an official nationality. Salt traders; agriculturalists; pastoralists. Buddhist, traditional religion.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Vernacular Publications

Lowa alphabet. 2010.