Page Type: languageTibetan, Khams | Ethnologue

KHG ISO 639-3

Tibetan, Khams

A language of China

ISO 639
khg
Alternate Names
Kam, Kami, Kang, Khamba, Khampa, Khams, Khams Bhotia, Khams-Yal
Population
1,380,000 in China (1994). 996,000 Eastern, 135,000 Southern, 158,000 Western, 91,000 Northern. Total users in all countries: 1,380,300.
Location:
Qinghai province: Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture; Sichuan province: Ganzi (Garzê) Tibetan autonomous prefecture; Xizang Autonomous Region: Changdu (Qamdo) and Naqu (Nagqu) districts; Yunnan province: Diqing (Dechen) Tibetan autonomous prefecture.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous). Language of recognized nationality: Tibetan.
Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Bodish, Central Bodish, Khams
Dialects
Eastern Khams, Southern Khams, Western Khams, Northern Khams. Dialects may be distinct languages; large differences reported. Lexical similarity: 86% with Central Tibetan [bod], 72% with Amdo Tibetan [adx] (Shearer and Sun 2017).
Typology
SOV; tonal, 4 tones.
Language Use
Used by all. Used as L2 by Shuhi [sxg], Western Minyag [wmg].
Language Development
Modern Literary Tibetan [bod] is the language of literature. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tibetan, Khams
Writing
Tibetan script [Tibt].
Other Comments
Different from Western Parbate [kjl], Eastern Parbate [kif], Sheshi Kham [kip], and Gamale Kham [kgj] of Nepal. Buddhist.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Tibetan, Khams
User Population
300 in Myanmar (2010 D. Bradley).
Location
Kachin state: Nomung township, Da On Dam, Dahom Dam, Mading, and San Dam villages.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments
Buddhist.
View other languages of Myanmar

Map

Location: Qinghai province: Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture; Sichuan province: Ganzi (Garzê) Tibetan autonomous prefecture; Xizang Autonomous Region: Changdu (Qamdo) and Naqu (Nagqu) districts; Yunnan province: Diqing (Dechen) Tibetan autonomous prefecture.