Kham, Gamal

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A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3
kgj
Alternate Names
Gamale, Gamale Kham, Kham, Kham-Magar, Khamkura, Magar Kham
Autonym
गामाले खाम‎ (gamale kham)
User Population

10,000, all users. L1 users: 7,000 (2011 SIL), increasing. L2 users: 3,000 (2011 Name change). Ethnic population: 90,000 (2011 SIL).

Location

Lumbini province: Rolpa district, Sunchhahari municipality, Chalbang, Dangadhara, Gam, Ghusbang, Guwakholagau, Huiching, Jhyalgung, Kuipadhara, Maulabang, Sheram, and Tamali.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

Classification
Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Himalayan, Central Himalayan, Kham-Magar, Kham
Dialects

Tamali, Ghusbanggi. Only 30% intelligibility with Western Parbate [kjl] due to radical differences in verbal morphology. Lexical similarity: 71% with Western Parbate (most similar) [kjl], 55% with Eastern Parbate [kif] and Sheshi [kip], 45% with Bhujel [kif].

Typology

SOV; postpositions; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; verbal affixation marks person and gender; passives and voice; tonal.

Language Use

Vigorous in the villages. Home, friends, work; mixed use: Religion. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use Nepali [npi], especially the younger generation.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 5%–15%.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kham, Gamal
Writing

Devanagari script [Deva].

Other Comments

Traditional religion, Christian.