Page Type: languageKham, Gamale | Ethnologue

KGJ ISO 639-3

Kham, Gamale

गामाले खाम‎ (gamale kham) Autonym

A language of Nepal

ISO 639
kgj
Alternate Names
Gamale, Kham, Kham-Magar, Khamkura, Magar Kham
Autonym
गामाले खाम‎ (gamale kham)
Population
10,000, all users. L1 users: 7,000 (2011 SIL), increasing. L2 users: 3,000 (2011). Ethnic population: 90,000 (2011 SIL).
Location:
Lumbini province: Rolpa district, Sunchhahari municipality, Chalbang, Dangadhara, Gam, Ghusbang, Guwakholagau, Huiching, Jhyalgung, Kuipadhara, Maulabang, Sheram, and Tamali.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous).
Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Himalayan, Central Himalayan, Kham-Magar, Kham
Dialects
Tamali, Ghusbanggi. Only 30% intelligibility with Western Parbate [kjl] due to radical differences in verbal morphology. Lexical similarity: 71% with Western Parbate (most similar) [kjl], 55% with Eastern Parbate [kif] and Sheshi [kip], 45% with Bhujel [kif].
Typology
SOV; postpositions; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; verbal affixation marks person and gender; passives and voice; tonal.
Language Use
Vigorous in the villages. Home, friends, work; mixed use: Religion. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Nepali [npi], especially the younger generation.
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kham, Gamale
Writing
Devanagari script [Deva].
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Lumbini province: Rolpa district, Sunchhahari municipality, Chalbang, Dangadhara, Gam, Ghusbang, Guwakholagau, Huiching, Jhyalgung, Kuipadhara, Maulabang, Sheram, and Tamali.