Alternate Names: Hyolmo, Yholmo, Yohlmu Tam, Yolmo
Dialects: Eastern Helambu Sherpa, Lamjung Yohlmo, LangDang Yohlmo, Western Helambu Sherpa. Melamchi river divides dialects. Understand other dialects even for abstract and complex subjects, including possibly Tarke Ghyang, Kahng-Kharka, Pahndang, but not Kagate ,. Lexical similarity: 66% with Dolpo , and Walungge ,; 65% with Lhasa Tibetan ,, Jirel ,, and Kyerung (Kyirong) ,; 63% with Loke , and Sherpa ,; 61% with Nubri ,; 60% with Lhomi ,.
Status Notes: Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Hyolmo.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 10,200 (2011 census). Very few monolinguals.
Language Use: Home; mixed use: Friends, religion, work. Older adults and elderly. Some use among children, adolescents, and young adults. Helambu Sherpa more prestigious and has more original culture preserved than Kagate [syw]. Shermathang-Chhimi area and east is prestigious. Many lamas live there. Not much contact with Kagate. Also use Nepali [npi], viewed as useful. Also use Central Tibetan [bod], Hindi [hin].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: Below 1%. Literacy rate in L2: 15%–25%. Literacy motivation not high, except in English [eng]. Radio programs. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2000.
Typology: SOV; postpositions; head noun initial; genitives, relatives before noun heads; articles, adjectives, numerals mostly after noun heads; no noun classes or genders; content q-word is usually the second word in the clause; maximum number of prefixes 1; maximum number of suffixes 4; clause constituents indicated primarily by case-marking, but word order distinguishes subject, object, indirect object some, but normally marked by postpositions; case of noun phrase indicated by postposition; split ergativity; rich system of tense and aspect; no passives or voice; causatives; comparatives; CV, CVC, CVV, CCV, CCVV, CVVC; tonal (4 tones); 36 consonant and 10 vowel phonemes.
Writing System: Devanagari
Nation of Origin: Nepal
Other Comments: They go to northern India as laborers or resettle in Kathmandu or in India. Buddhist (Lamaist), Christian, traditional religion.