Also Known As:
Kiranti, Rai, Bantawa Rai, Bantaba, Bontawa, Bantawa Yüng, Bantawa Yong, Bantawa Dum, Rungchenbung, Rungchengbung, Rungchhenbung, Rungtśhenbung
Dialects & Varieties
- Intermediate Bantawa
- Southern Bantawa (Hatuwali dialect)
- Northern Bantawa (Dilpali dialect)
- Western Bantawa (Amchoke dialect)
- Eastern Bantawa (Dhankuta dialect)
Language use among the Bantawa: Homogeneity, education, access, and relative prestige
Eppele, John. 2011. Language use among the Bantawa: Homogeneity, education, access, and relative prestige. Himalayan Linguistics Journal 10.1 [Special Issue in Memory of Michael Noonan and David Watters]. 41–54.
Threatened
100 percent certain, based on the evidence available
371,056
Native Speakers Worldwide
Speaker Number Trends
Speaker Number Trend 2
A majority of community members speak the language. Speaker numbers are gradually decreasing.
2
Domains of Use
Domain Of Use 2
Used in some non-official domains along with other languages, and remains the primary language used in the home for many community members.
2
Transmission
Transmission 1
Most adults in the community, and some children, are speakers.
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
"Only 59% of the respondents states their children primarily use Bantawa when playing with their friends, with 30% stating their children mainly use Nepali. In addition, only 57% of the subjects said that they primarily speak with their own children in Bantawa. This may be an indication of language shift among the younger generation." (p. 49)
Location and Context
Countries
Nepal
Location Description
eastern hills of Nepal, mostly in Bhojpur and adjacent areas
Government Support
no
Institutional Support
no
Speakers' Attitude
No results found.
Other Languages Used By The Community
Nepali
Number of Other Language Speakers:
many
Domains of Other Languages:
official domains or with village leaders, at market and sing songs
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
Informative message
No results found.