Dumi
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A language of Nepal
3,520, all users. L1 users: 2,500 (Rai 2017), decreasing. L2 users: 1,020 (2011 census). No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 7,640 (2011 census).
Kosi province: Khotang district, Aiselukhark, Kepilasagadhi, and Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipalities along the Rawa river.
6b (Threatened). Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Rai.
SVO; postpositions; noun head final; no noun classes or genders; content q-word in situ; 1 prefix, unknown number of suffixes; verbal affixation marks person and number; ergativity; nontonal; 25 consonant and 14 vowel phonemes.
Pressure to shift to Nepali [npi] in education and communication with outsiders is strong. Few parents teach Dumi to their children or encourage their children to use their language. Home, religion. Mixed use: Friends, work. Some young people, all adults. Positive attitudes. Most also use Nepali [npi], and neighboring local languages.
Periodicals. Dictionary. Grammar.
Efforts have been made by some to preserve the language by creating written materials. Traditional religion, Christian, Hindu.