Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Saam language

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Native to
  
Nepal

Ethnicity
  
Rai people

Region
  
Mechi Zone

Dialects
  
Bungla Lingkhim Sambya

Native speakers
  
530 (2011 census) (400 Saam, 130 Lingkhim)

Language family
  
Sino-Tibetan Mahakiranti ? Kiranti Central Rai Saam

Saam, also Saam Rai and Saama Kha, is a nearly extinct Kiranti language spoken in Nepal. The name Saam is ambiguous, and shared with neighboring languages.

Chukwa may be Saam if it is not Kulung.

Geographical distribution

Saam is spoken in the following locations of Nepal (Ethnologue).

  • Dobhane and Khatamma (Khartangma) VDC's, northern Bhojpur District, Kosi Zone; straddling the Irkhuwa River, in Dangmaya, Okharbote, Khartangma, and Dobhane settlements between the Phedi River and Irkhuwa River
  • Phikkal VDC, Ilam District, Mechi Zone

    • References

    Saam language Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA