Also Known As:
Lapche, Lapcha, Rong, Rongke, Rongpa, Nünpa, Leptśa, Róng, Rongpa, Lepoha, Nümpa
Dialects & Varieties
- Tamsangmu
- Ilammu
- Rengjongmu
South Asia and the Middle East
Driem, George Van. 2007. "South Asia and the Middle East." In Encyclopedia of the World's Endangered Languages, edited by Christopher Mosely. 289-348. London and NewYork: Routledge.
Severely Endangered
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
A few thousand
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 4
Less than half of the community speaks the language, and speaker numbers are decreasing at an accelerated pace.
4
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 4
Used mainly only in the home and/or with family, and may not be the primary language even in these domains for many community members.
4
Transmission
Transmission 3
Some adults in the community are speakers, but the language is not spoken by children.
3
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
"The entire Lepcha area is bilingual." (pg. 296)
Location and Context
Countries
Nepal; India
Location Description
Spoken in kalimpong ("British Bhutan"), as well as in approximately 100 households in Ilam district.
Government Support
No results found.
Institutional Support
No results found.
Speakers' Attitude
No results found.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Nepali
Number of Other Language Speakers:
None
Domains of Other Languages:
None
Writing Systems
Standard orthography:
No results found.
Writing system:
No results found.
Other writing systems used:
No results text.
Comments on writing systems:
No results found.
Recent Resources
Descriptive grammar of Lephcha. PhD Dissertation, Universiteit Leiden
Avani Lakhotia’s Rong Ring font is an attempt to breathe life into a language on the brink
The proclamitation is being issued under the seal and authority of the Hon’ble Col.