Alternate Names: Nar-Phu
Dialects: Nar (Lower Nar, Nar-Mä), Phu (Nar-Tö, Upper Nar). In a dialect continuum with Manangba , and possibly intelligible with it.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 600 (2011 K. Hildebrandt). 200 Phu speakers, 400 Nar speakers.
Language Use: If work is locally oriented, then Nar-Phu used; Tibetan [bod] is the liturgical language, but one can hear Nar-Phu in certain contexts during religious festivals. All ages. Many men are fluent in Tibetan [bod].
Language Development: Many men are literate in Classical Tibetan. Poetry. Dictionary.
Typology: SOV; postpositions; noun head initial; no noun classes or gender; content q-word in situ; 1 prefix, up to 2 suffixes; clause constituents primarily indicated by case-marking; tense and aspect; no passives or voice; tonal; 25 consonants, 8 simple vowels and 5 diphthongs.
Writing System: Unwritten
Nation of Origin: Nepal
Other Comments: See themselves as separate from Manangba and Gurung. Used as a secret language to confound Manangis and Gurungs who might otherwise understand their conversation (2002 M. Noonan). Buddhist.