Bumthang language
Encyclopedia
The Bumthang language is an East Bodish language
spoken by about 36,500 people in Bumthang
and surrounding districts
in central Bhutan
. Van Driem (1993) describes Bumthangkha as the dominant language of central Bhutan.
, Nupbikha and Khengkha
, nearby languages of central and eastern Bhutan, to the extent that they may be considered part of a wider collection of "Bumthang languages."
Bumthang language is largely lexically similar with Khengkha (92%), Nyenkha
(75%–77%), and Kurtöpkha
(70%–73%); but less so with Dzongkha (47%–52%) and Tshangla (Sharchop) (40%–50%). It is either closely related to or identical with the East Bodish language of the Tawang Monpa of India
and China
.
East Bodish languages
The East Bodish languages are those Bodish languages not covered by the name Tibetan, such as those spoken by the Monpa. They include:*Dakpa*Dzala*Bumthang *Tawang*Black Mountain Monpa .The most divergent is Dakpa...
spoken by about 36,500 people in Bumthang
Bumthang District
Bumthang District is one of the 20 dzongkhag comprising Bhutan. It is the most historic dzongkhag if the number of ancient temples and sacred sites is counted...
and surrounding districts
Districts of Bhutan
Bhutan comprises twenty districts .-Districts:-District Statistics:The results of the 2005 census appear below:...
in central Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
. Van Driem (1993) describes Bumthangkha as the dominant language of central Bhutan.
Related languages
Historically, Bumthangkha and its speakers have had close contact with speakers of KurtöpkhaKurtöp language
The Kurtöp language is a member of the Tibeto-Burman language family spoken in the Kurtoe Gewog, Lhuntse District, Bhutan...
, Nupbikha and Khengkha
Khengkha
Khengkha, also called the Kheng language, is a member of the Tibeto-Burman language family spoken in the Zhemgang, Trongsa and Mongar districts of south central Bhutan...
, nearby languages of central and eastern Bhutan, to the extent that they may be considered part of a wider collection of "Bumthang languages."
Bumthang language is largely lexically similar with Khengkha (92%), Nyenkha
Nyenkha
Nyenkha is an East Bodish language spoken by about 10,000 people in the eastern, northern, and western areas of the Black Mountains...
(75%–77%), and Kurtöpkha
Kurtöp language
The Kurtöp language is a member of the Tibeto-Burman language family spoken in the Kurtoe Gewog, Lhuntse District, Bhutan...
(70%–73%); but less so with Dzongkha (47%–52%) and Tshangla (Sharchop) (40%–50%). It is either closely related to or identical with the East Bodish language of the Tawang Monpa of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.