Alternate Names: Chamba, Chamba Lahuli, Changsapa Boli, Lahuli, Manchad, Manchati, Patni, Swangla
Dialects: Central Pattani, Chamba-Lahuli (Western Pattani), Eastern Pattani. 3 caste dialects exist (Pandit-Rajput, Harijan and Lohar). The lower castes understand Pandit-Rajput, but not vice versa. Lexical similarity: 55%–63% between Western Pattani dialect and Tinani ,, 26%–39% with Bunan ,, 37% with Shumcho ,, 35% with Jangshung ,, 33% with Sunam ,, 31% with Chitkuli , and Kinnauri ,, 25% with Puh and Kinnaur District varieties (Kinnaur Bhoti ,) of Tibetan, 22% with Nesang ,, 18% with Tibetan ,, 14%–15% with the Spiti and Stod varieties of Tibetan. Average of 80% between dialects.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 11,000 (1997). Ethnic population: 20,000 (2002). L2 users: 5,000 (1997).
Language Use: Home, village, religion. Positive attitudes. Hindi [hin] is used in education and trade; half speak Hindi with good proficiency. Also use English [eng]. Used as L2 by Tinani [lbf].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 50% for women (even young ones). Over 50% for men. Most young men under 30 can read (2002). Poetry. Bible portions: 1907–1914.
Writing System: Devanagari
Nation of Origin: India
Other Comments: Lahaula and Swangla are both Scheduled Tribes. Hindu.