Alternate Names: Barhagaule, Panchgaunle, Thaksya
Dialects: Marpha (Puntan Thakali), Syang (Yhulkasom), Tukuche (Tamhang Thakali, Thaksaatsaye, Thaksatsae). Thakali dialects have 91%–97% inherent intelligibility. Tukuche dialect most easily understood by others. Tukuche is cultural center and the most prestigeous dialect. Lexical similarity: 41%–46% with Gurung languages, 46%–51% with Tamang languages (1994 J. Webster). Thakali dialects in 4 villages have 75%–86% lexical similarity.
Status Notes: Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Thakali, Chhairotan, Marphali Thakali, Tieengaule Thakali.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 5,240 (2011 census), decreasing. Ethnic population: 13,000 (2001 census). L2 users: 1,060 (1991 census).
Language Use: Youth in Tukuche maintain Thakali strongly. Elsewhere youth use less Thakali, but develop it more fully as they grow older (1994 J. Webster). Religion; mixed use: Home, friends, religion, work. Older adults and elderly. Some use among children, adolescents, and young adults.
Language Development: Taught in primary schools. Poetry. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar.
Typology: SOV; postpositions; noun head both initial and final; no noun classes or genders; content q-word final; verbal affixation marks number; tense; no passives or voice; tonal; 27 consonant and 6 vowel phonemes.
Writing System: Devanagari
Nation of Origin: Nepal
Other Comments: Marpha dialect is in an endogamous village. People of Marpha, Syang, Thini, Chhairo, and Chimang villages are sometimes collectively known as Panchgaunle (5 villages), the name used for both the ethnic group and language. Buddhist, Christian, traditional religion.