Chukwa

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A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3
cuw
Alternate Names
Chukuwa, Cukwa Ring, Pohing, Pohing Kha
User Population

100 (2011 SIL), decreasing. Only 5 fluent speakers (2011).

Location

Kosi province: Bhojpur district, Salpasilichho municipality, Jimigau village.

Language Maps
Language Status

8b (Nearly extinct). Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Rai.

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Himalayan, Kiranti, Eastern
Dialects

None known. A noticeable number of shared nouns with Northern Lohorung [lbr] (2011 J. Eppele).

Typology

SOV; postpositions; verbal affixation marks person and number; tense; nontonal.

Language Use

Religion; mixed use: Home. Elderly only. Many shifted to English [eng]. Many shifted to Nepali [npi].

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Chukwa
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

Linguistically between Kulung-Nachering-Sangpang and Meohang-Saam (Hansson 1991), but there is no supporting data. The Chukwa claim a close linguistic and ethnic affiliation with Saam [raq]; they say that their language is very different from Kulung [kle], although Van Driem (2001) lists Chukwa as a subgroup of Kulung. Traditional religion, Hindu.