- Limbu language
language
name=Limbu
nativename=ᤕᤰᤌᤢᤱ ᤐᤠᤴ "yakthung pān"
region=Limbuwan ,Nepal ;Sikkim ,Kashmir andDarjeeling district West Bengal ,India
speakers=333,633 in Nepal (2001 census)
~28,000 in India (1997)
~8000 in PakistaniKashmir (1998)
iso2=sit
iso3=lif
familycolor=Sino-Tibetan
fam1=Sino-Tibetan
fam2=Tibeto-Burman
fam3=Himalayish
fam4=Mahakiranti
fam5=Kiranti
fam6=Eastern
script=Limbu script andDevanagari
nation=Sikkim (India )
notice=Limbu is a
Tibeto-Burman language spoken inNepal ,Sikkim ,Kashmir andDarjeeling district ,West Bengal ,India , by theLimbu community. Virtually all Limbus arebilingual in Nepali.The name "Limbu" is an
exonym of uncertain origin. Limbus refer to themselves as "yakthungba", and their language as Yakthung Pan. It has four main dialects; Panthare, Phedape, Chatthare and Tambar Khole. Panthare dialect is the standard dialect of the Limbu language, where as Phedape is spoken and understood by most.Limbu speakers are predominantly Hindu, except among Kashmiri Limbu speakers who are predominantly Muslim.
Writing
Limbu has its own unique Tibetan writing system, the
Limbu script . Far more Limbus are literate in Nepali than in Limbu, and so many Limbu publications will be accompanied by a Nepali version.Limbu is also written in
Devanagari .Publications
Limbu language has many papers and publications in circulation.Tanchoppa ( Morning Star ), a monthly newspaper/magazine published since 1995. There are many other literary publications.The oldest known Limbu writings were collected from Darjeeling district in 1850's. They are the ancestors of the modern Limbu script. The writings are now a part of collection in India Library in London.
Teaching
In
Nepal , the Limbu language is taught on private initiative. The Government of Nepal has published " Ani Paan" text books in Limbu for Primary education from grades 1 to 5. Kirant Yakthung Chumlung teaches Limbu language and script in its own initiative.In
Sikkim , since late 1970s Limbu, in Limbu script has been offered in English medium schools as a vernacular language subject in areas populated by Limbus. Over 4000 students studyLimbu for one hour daily taught by some 300 teachers. Course books are available in Limbu from grades 1 to 12.References
*Driem, George van (1987). "A grammar of Limbu". (Mouton grammar library; 4). Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. ISBN 3-11-011282-5
Related articles
*
History of Limbuwan
*Limbuwan Gorkha War External links
* [http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=lif Ethnologue report for language Limbu]
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