Page Type: languageJirel | Ethnologue

JUL ISO 639-3

Jirel

जिरेल‎ (jirel) Autonym

A language of Nepal

ISO 639
jul
Alternate Names
Jiri, Jirial, Ziral
Autonym
जिरेल‎ (jirel)
Population
4,970, all users. L1 users: 4,830 (2011 census), decreasing. L2 users: 140 (2011 census). Ethnic population: 5,770 (2011 census).
Location:
Bagmati province: Dolakha district, Baiteshwor, Gaurishankar, and Jiri municipalities.
Language Status
6b (Threatened). Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Jirel.
Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Bodish, Central Bodish, Central, gTsang
Dialects
Accent differences, but not real dialects. Some comprehension of Lhasa Tibetan [bod] and some Tibetan dialects. Lexical similarity: 67% with Sherpa [xsr], 65% with Helambu Sherpa [scp], 62% with Dolpo [dre] and Loke [loy], 60% with Kyerung (Kyirong) [kgy], 57% with Nubri [kte], Lhomi [lhm], and Walungge [ola], 54% with Lhasa Tibetan [bod].
Typology
SOV; postpositions; genitives, demonstratives, adjectives before noun heads; numerals after noun heads; relatives before and without noun heads; content q-word in situ; polar question word final; maximum number of prefixes 1, maximum number of suffixes 4; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; affixes indicate case of noun phrases; ergative; causatives; no passives or voice; CV, CVC, V, VC; tonal.
Language Use
Home, friends. Some young people, all adults. Also use Eastern Tamang [taj]. Also use Nepali [npi]. Also use Sherpa [xsr]. Also use Sunwar [suz].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 25%–30% adults, 60% younger people (1991 census). People literate in Nepali [npi] can read Jirel. Literature. Dictionary. Texts. NT: 1992.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Jirel
Writing
Devanagari script [Deva].
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Buddhist, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Bagmati province: Dolakha district, Baiteshwor, Gaurishankar, and Jiri municipalities.