Alternate Names: Glo Skad, Lhopa, Lo Montang, Loba, Lopa, Lowa, Loyu, Mustangi
Dialects: Baragaunle (Baragaon, Baragaun, Bhoti Gurung), Upper Mustang (Loke). High intelligibility between dialects reported. Lexical similarity: 79%–88% between dialects, 59%–71% with Dolpo ,, 54%–57% with Lhasa Tibetan ,, 58%–67% with Mugom ,.
Status Notes: Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Bahragaunle, Lhopa.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 3,030 (2011 census).
Language Use: Some youth totally educated outside language area and may not be able to speak Loke. Tibetan [bod] is used in religious domain. Home, friends. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use Central Tibetan [bod], Nepali [npi]. Used as L2 by Dolpo [dre], Seke [skj].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 41% for whole district, includes Thakalis, Nepalis. (males 57%, females 28%). Non-formal education. Grammar.
Typology: SOV; postpositions; noun head initial; 5 noun classes and 3 genders; content q-word in situ; at least 2 suffixes; no passives or voice; tonal; 44 consonant and 8 vowel phonemes.
Writing System: Devanagari, Tibetan
Nation of Origin: Nepal
Other Comments: Distinct from Lhoba in China and India, a Mirish language. Lo inhabitants are called Lopa or Lowa. Their capital is Manthang, called Mustang by outsiders. Manthang has 200 houses, many monasteries. Buddhist, traditional religion.