Page Type: languageYakkha | Ethnologue

YBH ISO 639-3

Yakkha

याक्खा‎ (Yākkhā) Autonym

A language of Nepal

ISO 639
ybh
Alternate Names
Dewansala, Jimi Bhasa, Yakha, Yakkha Ceya, Yakkhaba, Yakkhaba Cea, Yakkhaba Sala, Yakthomba
Autonym
याक्खा‎ (Yākkhā)
Population
21,090 in Nepal, all users. L1 users: 19,600 in Nepal (2011 census), decreasing. L2 users: 1,490 (2011 census). Very few monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 21,900 (as L1: 20,410; as L2: 1,490).
Location:
Kosi province: Dhankuta district, Mahalaxmi municipality; Sankhuwasabha district, Chainpur, Dharmadevi, Madi, and Panchakhapan municipalities.
Language Status
6b (Threatened). Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Yakkha.
Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Himalayan, Kiranti, Eastern
Dialects
Northern Yakkha (Sankhuwasabha), Southern Yakkha (Dhankuta), Eastern Yakkha (Ilam, Panchthar). Dialects have minimal diversity. Lexical similarity: with Athpariya [aph], Limbu [lif], and Yamphu [ybi].
Typology
SOV; postpositions; noun head final; no noun classes or genders; content q-word in situ; 1 prefix, up to 10 suffixes (depending on analysis); clause constituents indicated by case-marking; verbal affixation marks person and number; ergativity; tense and aspect; passives and voice; nontonal; 22 consonant and 5 vowel phonemes.
Language Use
Home, friends, religion; mixed use: Work, education. Some young people, all adults. Children and elderly. Some use among adolescents, young and older adults (Toba et al 2005). Also use Nepali [npi]. Used as L2 by Limbu [lif].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 10% in Nepali [npi]. There are attempts to teach Yakkha at school, and textbooks are published up to grade 3, but not widely used. Literature. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Agency: Kirant Yakkha Chumma.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Yakkha
Writing
Devanagari script [Deva], used since 2011.
Other Comments
Considered by many a distinct group of Kirati not fitting neatly into either Rai or Limbu groups (Bista 1996:39); in terms of mythology and people’s own judgment, they seem closer to Limbu than to Rai groups. Traditional religion, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Yakkha
User Population
810 in India (2000). Ethnic population: 6,300 (2007).
Location
Sikkim state: North district; West Bengal state: Darjeeling district.
Language Status
7 (Shifting)
Other Comments
Buddhist, Hindu.
View other languages of India

Map

Location: Kosi province: Dhankuta district, Mahalaxmi municipality; Sankhuwasabha district, Chainpur, Dharmadevi, Madi, and Panchakhapan municipalities.