Thangmi language


Thangmi, also called Thāmī, Thangmi Kham, Thangmi Wakhe, and Thani, is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken in central-eastern Nepal and northeastern India by the Thami people. The Thami refer to their language as Thangmi Kham or Thangmi Wakhe while the rest of Nepal refers to it as Thāmī. The majority of these speakers, however, live in Nepal in their traditional homeland of Dolakhā District. In India, the Thami population is concentrated mostly in Darjeeling. The Thangmi language is written using the Devanagari script. Thangmi has been extensively documented by Mark Turin.

Distribution

Thangmi is spoken in:
Ethnic Thami outside Dolakha and Sindhupalcok districts no longer speak Thangmi.

Classification

The Thangmi language seems to have many similarities with other languages in Nepal. For example, Barām, Kiranti and Newar. Studies from Konow, Shafer, Stein, Toba, van Driem and Turin demonstrate that Thangmi is closely related to the Rai and Newar languages.

Grammar

Dialects

Dolakhā vs. Sindhupālcok

Thangmi consists of two dialects, Dolakhā and Sindhupālcok. They differ in terms of phonology, nominal, and verbal morphology and in lexicon. The majority of the Thangmi speaking population use the Dolakhā dialect while only a handful speak in Sindhupālcok. The Dolakhā dialect offers a more complete verbal agreement system while the Sindhupālcok dialect has a more complex nominal morphology.

Thangmi songs

The Thami population are people who are rich in cultural and traditions. Their language is a large part of who they are and they portray this in their cultural, mostly in music. The Nepal Tham Society produced a handful of Thangmi songs that were recorded in 2007. The lyrics were written by Singh Bahadur Thami, Devendra Thami and Lok Bahadur Thami. Here are some examples:

Comparative vocabulary

The following 210-word list of five Thami dialects is from Regmi, et al.. The dialects covered are:
Baram words from Kansakar are also provided for comparison.
GlossBabreLapilangSuspa KshamavatiDaduwaChokatiBaram
bodymɑŋmɑŋmɑŋmɑŋjiuaŋ
headkɑpukɑpukɑpukɑpukɑpukəpu
haircimyɑŋcimeŋcimeŋmusmussjam
facekʰenkʰenkʰenkʰenkʰenmik
eyemesemesemesekmesemesemik
earkulnɑkulnɑkulnɑkulnɑkulŋɑkuna
noseciŋɑciŋyɑciŋɑcĩyɑ̃ciyɑ̃cina
mouthuɡouɡouɡoogoogoanam
teethsuwɑsuwɑsuwɑsuwɑsuwɑswa
tonguecilecilecilecilecilece le
breastcucucyucyucucununucucunənu
bellybɑŋkɑlbɑŋkɑlbɑŋkɑlbʌŋɡʌlbʌŋɡɑlujaŋ
arm/handlɑʔlɑʔlɑklɑlɑhit
elbowuruɽuŋuruurukuinokuina
palmoilyɑlɑʔlɑkpɑtilɑlapʈa
fingercʰumpicʰumpicumpicyukuricukuriəŋla
fingernailpinpinpinpinpinluŋdziŋ
legkonʈekonʈekonʈekonʈelɑiundzik
skinʃebiʃebiʃebiʃebiʃebichala
bonekoʃɑkoʃɑkoʃɑkoʃyɑkoʃyɑhaɖ
heartloŋseloŋseloŋsekloŋseloŋsemuʈu
bloodcɑicɑicɑicʌicʌicihui
urineuʃiuʃiuʃiuʃiuʃici
feceskuɽikuɽikiɽikuɽikiliku
villagerɑɽedesedesedesedesehannuŋ
housenemnemnemnemnemnam
roofcʰɑnɑcʰɑnɑpɑlipɑlicʰɑnɑchano
doorkʰɑɽoŋkʰɑɽuŋkʰɑɽokʰʌɽukʰɑɽuɖhoka
firewoodseŋseŋseŋseŋseŋsiŋ
broomtʰopetʰopetʰopetʰopetʰopeastuŋ
mortaryɑmbɑʔlokmɑŋlokmɑŋʈimluŋsiləuʈo
pestleulumlokulumulumloɦorolohoro
hammerʈʰokʈʰokyɑʈʰokʈʰokyɑʈʰokʈʰokeʈʰukʈʰukiɑʈʰokʈʰokyɑhətəuɖo
knifeɑikucɑɑikucɑɑikucɑkɑrdɑcʌkkuukhmen
axerɑpɑrɑpɑrɑpɑrɑʔpɑrɑpɑkəm
ropeʃɑkpɑʃɑkpɑʃɑkpɑʃyɑpɑɖɑmlɑɖori
threaddʰɑɡosɑlebenɑʃyɑpɑdʰɑgoləkthun
needleɦiliɦiliyuliyuliɦulipənuŋ
clothmyuŋmiŋmyɑŋmyuŋmyũmyuŋmu
ringsɑimundrosɑimundrosɑimundroʌŋɡuliŋʌũʈʰiəŋʈhi
sununiuniuniuniuniuni
mooncʌlʌunicʌlʌunicʌlʌunicʌlɑʔunicʌlɑunicəlauni
skysʌrɡyɑsʌrɡyɑsʌrɡesʌrɡeʌkɑsakas
starucʰiucʰiucʰiucʰiucʰitara
rainpɑŋkupɑŋkuyusɑjʰʌriuɑnʃyɑrdejʰɑriaŋmət
waterpɑŋkupɑŋkupɑŋkupʌŋkupɑŋkuawa
riverʃoŋʃoŋʃoŋʃoŋʃoŋgudul
clouddʰummɑkʰɑʃukʰɑsudʰummɑdʰumpɑa mu
lightningmirlisidusʌrɡyɑtowɑnmirliksɑmiklikgʌɽɑŋguɽuŋtʰɑ-
rainbowindreniindreniindrenilʌrkuniindreniindreni
windpʰɑʃɑpʰɑʃɑpʰɑʃɑpʰɑʃyɑpʰɑʃyɑasi
stoneɽiŋɽiŋliŋɽiŋlyuŋkumba
pathulɑmulɑmulɑmulɑmulɑmuŋma
sandpʰɑʃeɽiŋkʰreʔduɽiŋjɑŋkʰɑsyɑŋɖobʌluwɑbalwa
firememememememui
smokeɑskuɑskuɑskuɑcʰɑdʰuwɑ̃tʰɑnisku
ashtɑrbɑtrɑbɑtrɑbɑtrɑbɑtɑbrɑmaju
mudnɑsɑnɑsɑnɑsɑnɑsɑnɑsɑnəsa
dustpʰɑʃepʰɑssedʰulebuʃidʰulodhulo
goldsunloŋluŋɡoɦosunsun
treedoŋboduŋbodombopoleruksjaŋma
leafɑjɑɑjɑɑjɑɑjɑɑjɑsu
rootpolepolenɑrɑdɑrɑjɑrɑdzəra
thornpuʈupuʈupuʈupuʈupuʈuachu
flowerreŋreŋreŋreŋreŋphul
fruitpʰɑlpʰulpʰɑlpʰulpʰɑlpʰulkʌntʰʌmʌlpʰɑlpʰulphalphul
mangoɑ̃pɑ̃pɑmcurɑ̃pɑ̃pəmba
bananamuĩmuimuĩmuĩmuiumse
wheat jɑʔcʰojɑʔcʰojɑksojɑcʰojɑʔcʰogəu
barleyɑkɑnɑkɑnɑkɑnɑkɑnɑkɑndzəu
rice jɑkejɑkijɑkemekejɑkehadza
potatokwɑikwɑikwɑikwɑikoialu
eggplantbɑnʈɑbɑnʈɑbʰenʈɑbʌnʈɑbʰẽɽibhənʈa
groundnutbʌdɑmbʌdɑmbʌdɑmbʌdɑmbʌdɑmbədam
chilimɑrcimʌrcimɑrciɑsokʰorsɑniasok
turmericɦʌrdiɦʌrdiɦʌrdibesɑrbesɑrbesar
garliclʌsunlʌsunlʌsunlʌmbolʌsunləsun
onionpyɑjpyɑjpyɑjpyɑjpyɑjpjadz
cauliflowerreŋkopireŋkopikopikɑulikɑulikauli
tomatobɑnʈɑɡyɑmbɑlɑɡɑmbʌlbʌnʈɑgolbʰẽɽɑgolbhẽɖa
cabbageɑjɑkopiɑjɑkopibʌndɑbʌndɑbʌndɑbənda
oilɑsɑɑsɑɑsɑɑsɑɑsɑasa
saltcʰyɑcʰyɑcʰɑcʰyɑcʰɑcha
meatciciciciciciɑcʰinciciku sja
fat cʰeucʰoucʰeucʰocʰyʌukucho
fishnɑŋɑnɑŋɑnɑŋɑnɑŋɑnɑŋɑnəŋa
chickenwɑcɑwɑcɑwɑcɑwɑcɑwɑcɑhocca
eggomɑɦumɑɦumɑumɑumohom
cowmɑmɑʃyɑmɑmɑʃyɑmɑmɑʃyɑʃyɑʃyɑsja
buffalomeʃɑmeʃɑmeʃɑmeʃyɑmiʃyɑbhəisi
milkolonolonolʌnnununununənu
hornsnɑrunɑrunɑrunɑrunɑruujuŋ
taillimelimelimeklemelimepitik
goatʈuɽiʈuɽiʈuɽiculiculimi chja
dogkucukucukucukucukucua kja
snakerulrulrulrulrulpəi hu
monkeymɑkɑrmɑkɑrmɑkɑryuyupəi huk
mosquitoʈininiʈininiʈininilʌkʰʌʈoʈolɑmkʰuʈʈelamkhuʈʈe
antʈikoʈikuʈikucukkucukuanap
spidermɑkɑrpɑpɑmɑkɑrpɑpɑmɑkɑrpɑpɑjrɑmpʰɑljʌrɑmpɑldzənna
namenɑmenɑmenɑmenɑmenɑmeu men
manmimimimimibal
womancɑmɑicɑcɑmɑicɑcɑmɑicɑcɑmɑicɑcɑmɑicɑmama
childɦocɑucɑɦucɑɦuccɑɦucɑuca
fatherɑpɑɑpɑɑpɑɑpɑɑpɑpapa
motherɑmɑɑmɑɑmɑɑmɑɑmɑama
older brotherbubububububububububudadze
younger brotherɦuɦuɦuɦuɦuale
older sistertetetetetetetetetetedidi
younger sisterɦumiɦomiɦumiɦumiɦuabi
soncɑcɑcɑcɑcɑucuwa
daughtercɑmɑicɑmɑicɑmɑicɑmɑicɑmɑiucuməi
husbandlɑwɑʈʰoɽelɑwɑlɑwɑlɑwɑukəi
wifeumɑumɑumɑumɑumɑuməi
boyʃɑrɑʃɑrɑcɑɦucɑʃɑrɑcɑpapaca
girlʃɑrmɑʃɑrmɑcɑmɑicɑʃyɑrmicɑmɑimamaca
dayuniseuniseuniseʃyɑŋuniseunis
nightʈɑɦeʈɑɦeʈɑecyɑecyɑrat
morningbʌcinʈebʌcinʈebʌsinʈebʌsinʈebɑʃehamdzaŋ
noonuniseuniseuniseuniseunisediuso
eveningŋyoɽiŋŋyoɽiŋyʌɽiŋnyõɽicyɑtʰɑnhole
yesterdaymiryɑŋmiryɑŋmiryɑŋmerɡʰyɑŋmerɡʰyɑŋminja
todayyɑŋyɑŋyɑŋyɑŋyɑŋtəja
tomorrowbɑʈʈʰebɑʈʈʰebɑʈʰebɑʃebʰʌĩsehogei
weekɦʌptɑɦʌptɑɦʌptɑloʔʃyɑŋsɑtɑdinhəpta
monthmʌinɑmʌinɑmʌɦinesumcpʃyɑŋmʌinɑməina
yearkɑlekɑlekɑledɑrɑbʌrsʌbərsə
oldkʰɑrukʰɑrukʰɑrukʰɑrukʰɑrucəŋpa
newnɑkenɑkenɑkɑnɑkɑnɑkɑkawoi
goodɑprɑɑprɑɑprɑkʌstɑɑprɑkisen
badmɑʔɑprɑmɑʔɑprɑɦijebɑmɑjɑdumɑʔɑprɑməsen
wetpʰodupʰodupʰodupʰodubʰijɑiŋɑnkjasun
dryɡɑŋdumɑpʰodupʰʌŋpʰʌŋgʌŋdumɑbʰijɑisukhkha
longʌlʌmɡɑʌlʌmɡɑʌlʌmɡɑʌlʌmɡɑʌlʌmɡɑalok
shortucʰiɡɑucʰiɡɑucʰikɑucʰiɡɑucʰiɡɑikuri
hotɑdumɑdumɑdumɑdumɑdumkewon
coldʈilɑʈilɑɑjikijicilɑŋɑnkjasun
rightcɑkʰurcɑkʰurcɑkʰurcɑkʰurdɑɦinedaine
leftkʰolɑkʰolɑkʰolɑkʰolɑdebredebre
nearkʰerkʰerkʰertekʰereŋcʰeuteigin
farʌlʌmtʰɑʌlʌmtʰɑʌlʌmtʰɑʌlʌmtʰɑɑlɑmtʰɑkalok
bigjekʰɑjekʰɑjekʰɑjekʰɑjʰokɑalam
smallucyɑucyɑucɑcɑucyɑncɑecenɑikine
heavyɡʌruŋɡʌruŋɡɑnunidugʌrumɡʌruŋgegruŋ
lightɦʌluŋɦʌluŋpʰinpʰincɑɦʌluŋɦʌluŋhəlka
aboveɦyuteɦyuteɦyuteɦyuteɦyobbikhuŋ
belownʰɑtenʰɑtenʰɑtenʰɑnɑinɑbihjaŋ
whiteubouboubouboobogjabo
blackkijikijikijikijikijiciliŋ
redɖiŋɖiŋɖiŋɖiŋɖiŋɖiŋɖiŋɖiŋkeretphəija
onedididididede
twonisnisnisnisnisnis
threesumsumsumsumsumsom
fourolioliolioliwɑlicar
fivewɑlŋɑwɑlŋɑwɑlŋɑwɑ̃lɑhwɑlŋɑpãc
sixmɑtmɑtmɑtmʌtmɑtchə
sevenrɑrɑroloɽosat
eightlɑlɑlɑlɑlɑaʈh
ninekitkitkyutkitkitnəu
tendicipdicipdicipdicipdʰicipdəs
elevendicipdidicipdidicipdidicipdidʰicipdeegharə
twelvedicipnisdicipnisdicipnisdicipnisdʰicipnisbarə
twentynisdicipnisdicipnisdicipnisdicipnisdʰicipbis
one hundreddicipdicipdicipdicipdicipdicipdicipdicipdʰicipdʰicipde səe
whosusususususu
whatɦɑrɑɦɑrɑɦɑrɑɦɑrɑɦɑrɑhai
wherekutɑkutɑkutɑkutɑkutɑkuni
whenkutɑleŋkutɑleŋkutɑleŋkutɑleŋɦɑŋgɑlyɑŋkəile
how manyɦɑniɦɑniɦɑniɦɑ̃lĩɦɑikwa
whichkundukundukundukundukundukun
thiskɑkɑkɑkɑkɑjo
thattototodʰɑtotjo
thesekɑbɑŋkɑbɑŋkɑbɑŋkʌpʌliŋkɑbɑlijibaŋ
thosetobɑŋtobɑŋtobɑŋtopʌliŋtobɑŋubaŋ
sametototototoui
differentbʰindʌibʰindʌibeɡɑletoŋɑkɑpʰʌrʌkphərək
wholesɑkkʰɑlesɑkʰɑlesɑkɑlesɑkɑlesʌkkʰɑlisəbəi
brokenkwɑdukwɑʔdukwɑɡduʈʰemɑncʰyomdukipak
fewucʰincɑucʰincɑucʰinucʰincɑicʰinijurse
manyɑɦeɑɦeɑɦeɑɦeɑɦedherəi
allsɑkkʰɑlesɑkʰɑlesɑkɑlesɑkɑlesʌkkʰɑlisəpəi
eatcyɑsɑcyɑsɑcyɑsɑcyɑsɑcyɑsɑcago
biteceʔsɑceʔsɑceksɑceʔsɑceʔsɑaŋakko
hungrykrɑisɑkrɑisɑkʌrɑisɑkrʌisɑisɑkɑrɑinɑnhego
drinktunsɑtunsɑtunsɑtuncʰɑtuncʰɑsjaŋgo
thirstylɑkɑisɑlɑkɑisɑlɑkɑsɑlɑkɑŋsɑlɑkɑinɑnəs kago
sleepɑmisɑɑmisɑɑmisɑɑmisɑɑmisɑnago
liepʌlʈʌisisɑpʌlʈʌisisɑpʌlʈʌisɑbliŋsɑpʌlʈʌisisɑləllumgo
sitɦoʔsɑɦoʔsɑɦoksɑɦoʔsɑɦoʔsɑhukko
givepiʔsɑpiʔsɑpisɑpiʔsɑpiccʰɑpigo
burncieʔsɑjousɑjyoksɑjoʔsɑjyʌusɑcimakko
diesisɑsisɑsisɑsisɑsisɑsigo
killsɑtcʰɑsɑtcʰɑsɑtcʰɑsʌtcʰɑsɑccʰɑsat ko
flypersɑpersɑpersɑpersɑpersɑublego
walkcɑwɑsɑcɑwɑsɑcɑwɑsɑcɑwɑsɑcɑwɑsɑdzjogo
rundroʔsɑdroʔsɑdroksɑdroʔsɑdorʌsɑgəbango
goɦensɑɦensɑɦensɑɦensɑɦensɑjago
comerɑʔsɑrɑʔsɑrɑsɑrɑʔsɑrɑʔsɑtəigo
speakcijyɑŋsɑcijyɑŋsɑcijyɑŋsɑcijyɑŋsɑcijɑŋsɑkhəlago
hear/listennɑsɑisɑnɑsɑisɑnɑsɑisɑnɑsɑisɑnɑsɑisɑnago
lookyoʔsɑyoʔsɑyosɑjyɑpsɑjyɑpsɑni go
Iɡɑiɡɑiɡɑiɡʌiɡɑiŋa
you nɑŋnɑŋnɑŋnʌŋnɑŋnuŋ
you nɑŋtʰenɑŋtʰenɑŋkʰenʌŋnɑŋnuŋ
hetototototou
shetototototou
we ninininitʰeniru
we ninininitʰeniru
you niŋpɑliniŋpɑliniŋnʌŋpɑliŋnʌŋpɑlitibaŋ
theytobɑŋtobɑŋtobɑŋtopɑliŋtopɑliŋubaŋ