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

Thangmi

A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3: thf

Population  24,200 in Nepal (2007 SIL), decreasing. Population total all countries: 25,000. Ethnic population: 35,000.
Region  Most in Janakpur zone, Dolakha District; villages in Bagmati zone, Sindhupalchok District, west of the Sun Kosi; a few villages in Ramechhap along the Sailung Khola. Also in China, India.
Language map  Eastern Nepal, reference number 101
Alternate names   Thami, Thangmi Kham, Thangmi Wakhe, Thani
Dialects  Eastern Thangmi (Dolakha), Western Thangmi (Sindhupalchok). Related to Baraamu [brd] (Grierson-Konow). Some cognates with Dolakha dialect of Newar [new]. Dolakhi and Sindhupalchok dialects mutually incomprehensible. Differ in phonology, nominal and verbal morphology and lexicon.
Classification  Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Himalayish, Tibeto-Kanauri, Western Himalayish, Eastern
Language use  Used in religion. All ages. Negative language attitude. Shifting to Nepali [nep].
Language development  Literacy rate in L2: 22% (1991 census). Poetry. Dictionary. Grammar.
Comments  An official nationality. Slate miners; transporters; hunters; agriculturalists; pastoralists; road builders. Traditional religion, syncretism with Hinduism.

Also spoken in:

China

Language name   Thangmi
Population  300 in China (2002).
Region  Tibetan Autonomous Region.
Alternate names  Dolakha, Thami
 

India

Language name   Thangmi
Population  500 in India.
Region  Sikkim, East District, Aritar Sunua; West Bengal, Darjeeling.
Alternate names  Thami
Language use  Singh reports they speak Nepali [nep] and Thangmi is out of use. Reportedly also spoken in Darjeeling.
Comments  Workers.
 

Entries from the SIL Bibliography about this language:

Academic Publications

GLOVER, Warren W.; YADAVA, Yogendra P., editors. 1999. Topics in Nepalese linguistics.