Kulung

Print

Primary tabs

A language of Nepal

ISO 639-3
kle
Alternate Names
Jindā, Kholung, Khulung, Khulunge Rai, Kulu Ring, Kulunge, Kulungo
User Population

34,590 in Nepal, all users. L1 users: 33,200 in Nepal (2011 census). L2 users: 1,390 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 34,590 (as L1: 33,200; as L2: 1,390).

Location

Kosi province: Bhojpur district, Salpasilichho municipality; Sankhuwasabha district, Silichong municipality; Solukhumbu district, along the Hungu river, Mahakulung and Sotang municipalities.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened). Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Rai.

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

Sotto Ring. 100% intelligibility between Kulung and Sotto Ring; only a few words pronounced differently. Related to Sampang [rav] and Nachering [ncd].

Typology

SOV; postpositions; noun head final; no noun classes or genders; content q-word initial; 1 prefix, up to 3 suffixes; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; verbal affixation marks person and number; ergativity; tense; no passives or voice; nontonal; 22 consonant and 6 vowel phonemes.

Language Use

Home, friends, religion. Some young people, all adults. Also use Nepali [npi], which almost all can understand at a basic level. Used as L2 by Eastern Mewahang [emg], Khaling [klr], Nepali [npi], Western Mewahang [raf].

Language Development

High motivation for literacy. Literature. Periodicals. Grammar. NT: 2016.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kulung
Writing

Devanagari script [Deva].

Other Comments

Exogamous clan marriage. The high number of Kulung reflect the tendency of smaller groups to consider themselves Kulung, but are not Kulung by origin. The Kulung possibly absorb smaller groups. Traditional religion, Christian.

Also spoken in:

Expand All
Collapse All