Language Information by Source

A sociolinguistic study of Limbu

Webster, Jeffrey D. 2001. A sociolinguistic study of Limbu. Journal of Nepalese Literature, Art and Culture 4. 51-84.

Safe
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
300,000
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends

Speaker Number Trend 0

Almost all members of the community or ethnic group speak the language, and the number of speakers is stable or increasing.

0
Domains of Use

Domain Of Use -1

Used in most domains, including official ones such as government, mass media, education, etc.

-1
Transmission

Transmission -1

All members of the community, including children, speak the language.

-1

Speakers

Native or fluent speakers:
No results found.
Second-language speakers and learners
No results found.
Semi-speakers or rememberers
No results found.
Children:
No results found.
Young adults
No results found.
Older adults
No results found.
Elders
No results found.
Ethnic or community population
No results found.
Year information was gathered
No results found.
Comments on speakers
Limbu is passed down to children. In Nepal, Limbu is used in all sorts of non-official domains such as at home, in villages and in worship though Nepali is also used at home and in markets. Multilingual dictionaries, religious rituals and texts, radio programs, and newspaper written in Limbu are found. In Sikkim (India), Limbu is one of the official languages and is taught in school till class 12.

"Limbu vitality is still strong, but the Limbu spoken commonly today is showing the increasing influence of Nepali." (p.66)

Location and Context

Countries
Nepal; India
Location Description

The eastern hilly region of Nepal, and adjacent areas of Sikkim in north India.

Government Support
yes
Institutional Support
yes
Speakers' Attitude
very positive
Other Languages Used By The Community
Nepali (in Nepal)
Number of Other Language Speakers:
almost all
Domains of Other Languages:
all

Writing Systems

Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
Devanagari, Sarijangga, Kirati
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
No results found.

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