Page Type: languageLimbu | Ethnologue

LIF ISO 639-3

Limbu

यक्थुङ्पन‎ (Yakthungpan) Autonym

A language of Nepal

ISO 639
lif
Alternate Names
Yakthung Pan, Yakthungpan
Autonym
यक्थुङ्पन‎ (Yakthungpan)
Population
366,200 in Nepal, all users. L1 users: 344,000 in Nepal (2011 census), increasing. L2 users: 22,200 (2011 census). Relatively few monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 407,000 (as L1: 384,800; as L2: 22,200).
Location:
Kosi province: east of the Arun river, north of the Mahendra Highway; Dhankuta, Ilam, Jhapa, Morang, Panchthar, Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, and Terhathum districts.
Language Status
6b (Threatened). Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Limbu.
Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Himalayan, Kiranti, Eastern
Dialects
Panthare, Phedappe, Tamorkhole (Taplejunge), Chaubise (Charkhole), Chhatthare (Chatthare, Chhathar), Yanggrokke (Yanggruppe). Yanggrokke, Chaubise and Charkhole are minor variants of the Panthare dialect; Phedappe and Tamorkhole are similar. Chattare is less well understood by other dialect speakers. The dialect spoken in Sikkim, India, is same as Panthare. Intelligibility among all varieties 84% and higher.
Typology
SOV; postpositions; genitives, articles, adjectives, numerals before noun heads; noun head final; content question word in situ; bipolar question word final; maximum of 3 prefixes, 6 suffixes; affixes indicate case of noun phrases; verb affixes mark subjects, objects, indirect objects—obligatory; verbal affixation marks person and number; split ergativity; reflexes conjugated intransitively can be used as a kind of passive; passives and voice; antipassives; causatives; comparatives; 16 consonant and 13 vowel phonemes; V, CV, CVC, CCV, CCVC; nontonal.
Language Use
Vigorous. Limbu is not replaced in any domain, though children now speak more Nepali than Limbu (UNESCO 2002). A main group in eastern Nepal. Home, religion; mixed use: friends, work, education. Some young people, all adults, especially older adults and elderly. Some use among children, adolescents, and young adults. Positive attitudes. Panthare dialect is dominant in size, prestige, and language development. People prefer their own dialect, but are not negative toward others. Many also use Nepali [npi], especially among youth and educated. Some also use Yakkha [ybh], especially women due to intermarriage.
Language Development
Many adult speakers completed 5 years of school, and have good proficiency in Nepali [npi]. Motivation for development is high among all. Literacy programs in progress to teach Sirijonga script (Salminen 2007). Literature. Newspapers. Periodicals. Radio. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. NT: 2009.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Limbu
Writing
Devanagari script [Deva], primary usage. Limbu (Kiranti, Sirijonga) script [Limb], dating from early 18th century.
Other Comments
Priestly high language, known by some older people and priests, is called Mundumban. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Limbu
User Population
40,800 in India (2011 census). Ethnic population: 177,000 (2007).
Location
Assam state; Sikkim state: West district; West Bengal state: Darjeeling district.
Language Status
4 (Educational)
Other Comments
Traditional religion, Buddhist, Hindu.
View other languages of India

Map

Location: Kosi province: east of the Arun river, north of the Mahendra Highway; Dhankuta, Ilam, Jhapa, Morang, Panchthar, Sankhuwasabha, Taplejung, and Terhathum districts.