Chukwa

A language of Nepal

ISO 639: cuw
Alternate Names: Chukuwa, Cukwa Ring, Pohing, Pohing Kha
Population: 100 (2011 SIL), decreasing. Only 5 fluent speakers (2011).
Location:: Kosi province: Bhojpur district, Salpasilichho municipality, Jimigau village.
Language Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Rai.
Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Himalayan, Kiranti, Eastern
Dialects: None known. A noticeable number of shared nouns with Northern Lohorung [lbr] (2011 J. Eppele).
Typology: SOV; postpositions; verbal affixation marks person and number; tense; nontonal.
Language Use: Religion; mixed use: Home. Elderly only. Many shifted to English [eng]. Many shifted to Nepali [npi].
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Chukwa
Writing: Unwritten [Qaax].
Other Comments: Linguistically between Kulung-Nachering-Sangpang and Meohang-Saam (Hansson 1991), but there is no supporting data. The Chukwa claim a close linguistic and ethnic affiliation with Saam [raq]; they say that their language is very different from Kulung [kle], although Van Driem (2001) lists Chukwa as a subgroup of Kulung. Traditional religion, Hindu.

Location: Kosi province: Bhojpur district, Salpasilichho municipality, Jimigau village.