Chantyal

CHX

threatened

Alternate Names: Chantel, Chantel Kham, Chentel, Chhantel, Chhantyal, Khamkura

Dialects: None known. Related to Gurung ,, Manangba ,, Tamang ,, and Thakali , (Noonan 1996).

Status Notes: Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Chhantyal.

Genealogy:

Sino-Tibetan
Tibeto-Burman
Western Tibeto-Burman
Bodish
West Bodish
Gurung-Tamang
Gurungic

Demographics: 4,280 (2011 census), decreasing. 0 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 9,820 (2001 census).

Language Use: Home, villages (Noonan 1996). Not used for singing. Also use Nepali [npi].

Language Development: Dictionary. Grammar.

Writing System: Devanagari

Nation of Origin: Nepal

Other Comments: Some believe Chantyal will be replaced soon. Outsiders often regard it as Magar, but they claim a Thakuri origin (de Sales 1993). Much lexical borrowing from Nepali. Sometimes called Khamkura as are Kham languages, which can have a general meaning of local non-Nepali dialect. (Watters 2002). Traditional religion, Buddhist.