Page Type: languageTshangla | Ethnologue

TSJ ISO 639-3

Tshangla

ཆང་ལོ་‎ (Tshanglo) Autonym

A language of Bhutan

ISO 639
tsj
Alternate Names
Central Monpa, Menba, Monpa, Sangla, Sarchapkkha, Shachobiikha, Shachopkha, Sharchagpakha, Sharchhokpa, Sharchhop, Sharchokpa-lo, Tsangla, Tschanglo, Tshalingpa
Autonym
ཆང་ལོ་‎ (Tshanglo)
Population
163,000 in Bhutan (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 181,200.
Location:
Mongar district: east; Pemagatshel district: east; Samdrup Jongkhar and Trashigang districts; Trashi-Yangtse district: south.
Language Status
4 (Educational). De facto language of provincial identity in eastern and southeastern Bhutan.
Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Bodish
Dialects
None known. Standard variety in Tashigang. Tshangla is nearly identical to that of eastern Bhutan, except for the loss of initial voicing and tonogenesis in Tibet. Differs from Tawan Monba [twm] in phonology, vocabulary, and grammar, and Tawan Monba and Tshangla are not mutually intelligible. Lexical similarity: 40%–50% with Bumthangkha [kjz], 41%–48% with Dzongkha [dzo].
Typology
SOV; singular-dual-plural personal pronouns; case-marking (3 cases); tense and aspect; 31 consonants and 5 vowels; nontonal; evidentiality (mirativity).
Language Use
Also use Dzongkha [dzo]. Used as L2 by Khengkha [xkf].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 47% (2003 SIL). Literacy rate in L2: Below 1%. Radio. Grammar. Bible portions: 2000.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tshangla
Writing
Tibetan script [Tibt], Uchen style, used in India.
Other Comments
Not the same as Tsanglo (Angami Naga) of Assam, India. May also be classified as North Assam, Monpa. Buddhist.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Tshangla
User Population
7,000 in China (2000 census). Majority are monolingual. Ethnic population: 10,600 (2010 census). Includes Moinba (Cuona Monba) [twm] speakers.
Location
Xizang Autonomous Region: Linzhi prefecture, Motuo (Medoz, Medog) county, Bangxing, Beibeng, Dexing, and Motuo districts; Linzhi (Ngingchi) county, Dongjiu district.
Language Status
6b (Threatened)
Other Comments
Different from Angami Naga [njm] of India. Buddhist.
View other languages of China
Language Name
Tshangla
User Population
11,200 in India (2007). 8,200 in Kameng District; 3,000 in West Siang.
Location
Arunachal Pradesh state: West Kameng district, Dirang area; Assam state: Udalguri district, Mechuka and Tuting sub-districts, Bishing Mechuka, Bona, Dorgling Halung, Galling, Korfu, Namsu, Opu, Sangti, Tempang, and Tuting villages; possibly West Siang district.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
A Scheduled Tribe. Chowdhury (1996) separates Memba (Tshangla) and Khamba as different tribes in Siang District, both separate from Monpa, in Kameng District. Buddhist.
View other languages of India

Map

Location: Mongar district: east; Pemagatshel district: east; Samdrup Jongkhar and Trashigang districts; Trashi-Yangtse district: south.