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Tamang, Eastern

A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3: taj

Population	759,000 in Nepal (2000), increasing. Population total all countries: 773,000.
Region	Kathmandu and northeast, east, and south. Most districts east, Outer-Eastern in Janakpur zone, east Sindhupalchowk, Ramechhap, Dolakha districts. Central-Eastern in Bagmati zone, Kabhre District, west Sindhupalchowk, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, east Nuwakot districts, and districts south of those. Southwestern in Narayani zone, west Makwanpur and Chitawan districts, and districts south and southwest of those. Also in Bhutan, India, Myanmar.
Language maps	Eastern Nepal, reference number 36 Western Nepal, reference number 36
Dialects	Outer-Eastern Tamang, Central-Eastern Tamang, Southwestern Tamang. Central-Eastern is most widely understood among all tested to date: 85% by both Trisuli and Rasuwa Western Tamang [tdg], 93%–98% by Outer-Eastern, 87% by Southwestern Tamang [tsf]. Comprehension of Outer-Eastern was 58% by Western Rasuwa Tamang [tdg], 64%–75% by Western Trisuli Tamang [tdg], 67%–54% by Southwestern Tamang [tsf], 88%–93% by Central-Eastern Tamang [taj], and 90%–98% among its own varieties. Southwestern Tamang [tsf] may be a bridge between Eastern and Western Tamang. Lexical similarity: 88%–99% among Outer Eastern varieties; 89%–100% among Central Eastern; 79%–93% between Outer Eastern and Central Eastern, 77%–82% with Southwestern Tamang [tsf], 86%–93% between Southwestern and Central-Eastern, 74%–80% between Eastern and Western Trisuli Tamang [tdg], 69%–81% with Western Rasuwa Tamang [tdg], 72%–80% with Northwestern Dhading Tamang [tmk], 63%–77% with Eastern Gorkha Tamang [tge].
Classification	Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Tibetic, Tamangic
Language use	Vigorous. Tamang Language and Literature Council; Nepal Tamang Student Group. 23,645 L2 speakers of all Tamang (1991 census). Home, indigenous religion, social gatherings, market, officials who understand, local literature. All ages. Most also use Nepali [nep].
Language development	Literacy rate in L1: 1%–5%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Some literacy materials and classes conducted. Poetry. Magazines. Radio programs. Films. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible portions: 2005.
Writing system	Devanagari script. Tibetan script.
Comments	Tamang recognized as an official nationality. The largest Tibeto-Burman language in Nepal. SOV; postpositions, genitives after nouns; question word medial; ergative; CV, CVC, CCV, V, CCVC; tonal. Swidden and peasant agriculturalists. Traditional religion, Buddhist, Hindu.

Also spoken in:

India

Language name	Tamang, Eastern
Population	14,000 in India (1997). Ethnic population: 272,329.
Region	Sikkim, lower Teesta valley, Rangit valley; West Bengal, Darjeeling; Arunachal Pradesh.
Language development	Taught in primary schools.
Comments	Migrate from Nepal.

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

KIM, Young Mee, author. 2011. Development of a National Literacy Assessment Instrument for Cross-Linguistic Use in Nepal.  

LEE, Sung-Woo, author. 2011. Eastern Tamang Grammar Sketch.  

TRAIL, Ronald L., editor. 1973. Patterns in clause, sentence, and discourse in selected languages of India and Nepal 1: Sentence and discourse.  

TRAIL, Ronald L., editor. 1973. Patterns in clause, sentence, and discourse in selected languages of India and Nepal 2: Clause.  

TRAIL, Ronald L., editor. 1973. Patterns in clause, sentence, and discourse in selected languages of India and Nepal 3: Texts.  

TRAIL, Ronald L., editor. 1973. Patterns in clause, sentence, and discourse in selected languages of India and Nepal 4: Word lists.  

VARENKAMP, Bryan, author. 1996. Tamang tam: a sociolinguistic study of Eastern Tamang dialects (in Nepal).

VARENKAMP, Bryan, author. 2003. "A look at -ba in Central Eastern Tamang."

Vernacular Publications

bhitte patro 2060-2061 lhochar (Calendar 2004-2005 New Year). 2004.