Walungge
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A language of Nepal
3,500 in Nepal (2019 SIL), decreasing. Mostly in original area. High language loss among those who have left the language area. Ethnic population: 4,000 (2019 SIL). Total users in all countries: 4,500.
Kosi province: Sankhuwasabha district, Makalu municipality, Pawakhola village; Taplejung district, Mikwakhola municipality, Simbuk, and Papung villages; Phaktanglung municipality, Ghunsa, Lungthung, and Olangchung Gola villages; Sirijangha municipality, Yamphudin village.
6b (Threatened). Language of recognized indigenous nationality: Walung, Thudam, Topkegola.
Walungge, Dhokpya (Topke Gola), Thudam. Reportedly similar to Tibetan dialect in Tingay District of Tibet. Lexical similarity: 71% with Lhasa Tibetan [bod], 68% with Dolpo [dre], Loke [loy], and Kyerung (Kyirong) [kgy], 66% with Lhomi [lhm] and Helambu Sherpa [scp], 64% with Nubri [kte], 57% with Jirel [jul], 55% with Sherpa [xsr]. Tokpe Gola (Dhokpya), Walungge, and Thudam all have lexical similarities above 60% with a range from 75%–85%.
SOV; postpositions; content q-word in situ; clause constituents indicated by case-marking; ergativity; no passives or voice; tonal (Thudam dialect).
Literacy rate in L2: 43%–72% in Nepali [npi]. Taught as subject in primary schools, in one school for teaching the Tibetan writing system starting from Class 1.
Cut off from the Lhomi, with more links to Tibet. Some intermarriage with Lhomi and Tibetan. The people call themselves Sherpa. They do not have a specific language name which groups all varieties of the language together and distinguishes the language from other Tibetan languages. The word ‘Walungge’ comes from a name of one of the main villages in the language area. The Thudam are tenant farmers for the Walungge and Lhomi [lhm]. Buddhist.