Ethnicity: Monpa people etc. Glottolog: east1469 | Geographic
distribution: Bhutan | |
 | ||
Linguistic classification: Sino-Tibetan
Tibeto-Kanauri ?
Bodish
East Bodish | ||
The East Bodish languages are a small group of non-Tibetic Bodish languages spoken in eastern Bhutan and adjacent areas of Tibet and India. They include:
George van Driem initially proposed that 'Ole belonged to the group, but later decided that it belonged to a group of its own.
Although the East Bodish languages are closely related, Tshangla and related languages of eastern Bhutan, also called "Monpa" and predating Dzongkha, form a sister branch not to the East Bodish group, but to its parent Bodish branch. Thus the ambiguous term "Monpa" risks separating languages that should be grouped together, whereas grouping languages together that are quite distinct. Zakhring is apparently also related, though strongly influenced by Miju or a similar language.
Internal classification
Hyslop (2010) classifies the East Bodish languages as follows.
She regards the Dakpa–Dzala and Bumthangic subgroups as secure, and the placement of Phobjip and Chali as more tentative.
Lu (2002) divides the "Menba language" (门巴语) into the following subdivisions. The southern dialect is most likely Tawang Monpa.