Tibetan, Khams

A language of China

Kam, Kami, Kang, Khamba, Khampa, Khams, Khams Bhotia, Khams-Yal

1,380,000 in China (1994). 996,000 Eastern, 135,000 Southern, 158,000 Western, 91,000 Northern. Total users in all countries: 1,380,300.

Location

Qinghai province: Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture; Sichuan province: Ganzi (Garzê) Tibetan autonomous prefecture; Xizang Autonomous Region: Changdu (Qamdo) and Naqu (Nagqu) districts; Yunnan province: Diqing (Dechen) Tibetan autonomous prefecture.

Language Maps

China

Northern Myanmar

Language Status

6a (Vigorous). Language of recognized nationality: Tibetan.

Classification

Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Bodish, Central Bodish, Khams

Dialects

Eastern Khams, Southern Khams, Western Khams, Northern Khams. Dialects may be distinct languages; large differences reported. Lexical similarity: 86% with Central Tibetan [bod], 72% with Amdo Tibetan [adx] (Shearer and Sun 2017).

Typology

SOV; tonal, 4 tones.

Language Use

Used by all. Used as L2 by Shuhi [sxg], Western Minyag [wmg].

Language Development

Modern Literary Tibetan [bod] is the language of literature. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts.

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Tibetan, Khams

Writing

Tibetan script [Tibt].

Other Comments

Different from Western Parbate [kjl], Eastern Parbate [kif], Sheshi Kham [kip], and Gamal Kham [kgj] of Nepal. Buddhist.