Puneet Varma (Editor)

Khaling language

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Native to
  
Nepal

Glottolog
  
khal1275

ISO 639-3
  
klr

Region
  
Solukhumbu and Khotang districts

Native speakers
  
15,000 in Nepal (2011 census)unknown number in India

Language family
  
Sino-TibetanMahakiranti ?KirantiWesternUpper DudhkosiKhaling

Khaling is a Kiranti language spoken in Solukhumbu district, Nepal and in India. It is one of the few Kiranti languages with tonal contrasts. Khaling has approximately 15,000 speakers and is therefore considered a vulnerable language. Khaling has a complex system of stem alternations: as many as 10 distinct stems have to be posited for a word (Jacques et al. 2012). Khaling is very unusual in having an auditory demonstrative (see Jacques and Lahaussois 2014). Khaling is also known as Rai, Khalinge Rai, Khael Bra, and Khael Baat.

Contents

General information

Khaling is still being acquired by children who live in Khaling-speaking areas, as well as non-Khaling children who happen to live in that area.

Geographical distribution

Khaling is spoken in the following VDC's of Nepal (Ethnologue).

  • Solukhumbu District, Sagarmatha Zone: Kanku, Basa, Waku, Buksa, Jubing, and Phuleli villages
  • Khotang District: Buipa and Kharmi villages
  • Sankhuwasabha District, Kosi Zone: Tungkhaling village
  • Sunsari District: Dharan
  • Ilam District, Mechi Zone: Pang, Sumbek, and Mai Pokhari villages

    • References

    Khaling language Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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