TAMANG LANGUAGE
Ajitman Tamang
2.1 Tamang Language
The Tamang speech is known with many names such as "Tamang Tam, Tamang Lengmo, Tamang Kat or Kai that are employed by the Tamang people to communicate their feelings and emotions to each other, which is called Tamang Gyot or Tamang Gyoi 'Tamang language.'
Following Ethnologue 2009 (Grimes: edition xiv), 121 languages spoken in Nepal. So, Nepal is a country of linguistic diversity. However, the national population census report of Nepal 2001 mentions 92 languages and others among languages spoken in Nepal.
Among the total population of Tamang, 1,179,145 Tamang peoples employ their mother tongue in day to day conversation. The recent census report of Nepal shows that Tamang Language holds fifth position in the country and the single largest language among the Tibeto-Burman languages of Nepal, see in Table 1 below.
Table 1: Distribution of Tamang Speaker in Census Reports in Nepal
|
Major Languages |
Census Year |
|||||
|
1952/54 |
1961 |
1971 |
1981 |
1991 |
2001 |
|
|
Khas-Nepali |
48.74 |
50.96 |
52.45 |
58.36 |
50.31 |
48.61 |
|
Maithali-Nepali |
12.44 |
12.01 |
11.49 |
11.11 |
11.58 |
11.30 |
|
Bojpur-i Nepali |
5.80 |
6.13 |
6.98 |
7.61 |
7.46 |
7.53 |
|
Tharu-Nepali |
4.37 |
4.32 |
4.29 |
3.63 |
5.37 |
5.86 |
|
Tamang-Nepali |
6.01 |
5.62 |
4.80 |
3.48 |
4.89 |
5.19 |
|
Magar-Nepali |
3.32 |
2.71 |
2.50 |
1.42 |
2.30 |
3.39 |
|
Newar-Nepali |
4.65 |
4.01 |
3.94 |
2.99 |
3.73 |
3.63 |
(Source: CBS2/54-2001)
across the nation. Besides this, the language is spoken in Myanmar (Burma), Bhutan and Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal (Darjeeling, Kalimpong) of India.
2.2 Nomenclature of Language
The Tamang people themselves used 'Tamang gyot', 'Tamang gyoi', 'Tamang Tam', 'Tamang kai', 'Tamang Kat', 'Tamang pang' for the Tamang language in different villages and dialects. It is also known as 'Tambala-Tam' or 'Tamba- Kaiten' in the classical term in eastern Tamang, and 'phroi', 'Yul-ki Tam' in western dialect. These various names are directly related to the Tamang tribal community.
The earlier scholars have mentioned the term 'Murmi' for the Tamang people and the language they speak[1]. In the languages of the Kirati people, Tamang known as Murmi by Rai, Limbu, and Lepcha[2], Sain by Newars, Bhote, Bhutiya, Lama Bhote by Hindu community of Nepal.
Many researchers have also used the following words Mulmi, Semon, Bonpa, Rongba, Kagatei, Lhoba, Kath, Bhotiya, Shyarba, Gle(Ghale), Ishang, Kaike to denote the Tamang people and language(Tamang:1995: 28-29). Generally, the Tamang people called themselves 'Tamang gyot' for Tamang language in the western dialect and 'Tamang gyoi' in the Eastern dialect.
2.3 Genetic Relation
The Tamang language belongs to the Tamangic a group of the Bodic languages family. It is monosyllabic, Tonal, and non-pronominalized basic characteristic languages family of Sino—Tibetan (Tibeto-Chinese[3]). So, we can say that the Tamang language is the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family and Bodish branch of Bodic languages, Tibetic branch of Bodish languages, and members of the Tamangic languages family (Noonan: 1998, 2003, 2006, 2008).
Mazaudon (2005:1-2) mentioned as "Tamang or Tamangish branch" for TGTM (Tamang, Gurung, Thakali, Manange) languages of Nepal. She also claimed that " Tamangish is very close to Tibetan, but their separation dates from before the period of written Tibetan." Therefore, the Tamang is one of the members of the Tamang or Tamangic or Tamangish branch of languages spoken in Nepal.
The genetic relation of the Tamang language; given as follow in Diagram 1.
2.4 Dialects
Generally, two regional dialects of Tamang are found. They are Western Tamang (henceforth, WT) and Eastern Tamang (henceforth, ETD). Some components of distinction between Western and Eastern dialects are verb Prefixes byoŋ- (WTD) vs jyon- (ETD) and verb suffixes like –Jim (WTD) vs –si and -si-nam (ETD), -Tim vs –cim, -Tiba WTD) vs –ciba and –ban (ETD), Nominal suffix –ce (WTD) vs –se (EDT), etc. and phonological alternation, some features of allophonic variation make difference between two regional dialects.
The examples presented below are based on the data elicited from the Tamang native speakers and researcher's self, which are as follows:
|
Western Tamang |
Eastern Tamang |
|
HON Verb Prefixes byoŋ- cu-ri byoŋ-kha-u this-LOC HON-come-IMP 'Come here.' |
HON Verb Prefixes jyon- cu-ri Jyon-kha-u This-LOC HON-come-IMP 'Come here.' |
|
Verb suffixes -jim, -Tim, -Tiba ŋa ken ca-jim ŋi-ji I-rice eat-CP go-PST ‘I went after having had rice.’ |
Verb suffixes –si, -sinam, -cim, -ciba ŋa kan ca-si ni-ji I-rice eat-CP go-PST ‘I went after having had rice.’ |
2.5 Western Tamang Dialect (WTD)
In the experience and fieldwork of researcher self, west of Kathmandu valley to Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, northwest of Makwanpur, Chitawan (Mangalpur, Thori, Birendranagar, etc VDC), East of Gorkha, Lamjung, Kaski (Saimrang), North-west of Sindhupalchok district of mid-region Nepal are the major regions of Western Tamang Dialect (henceforth, WTD).
The small number of migrated Tamang population of WTD is residing in Kailali, Kanchanpur of far-western districts of Nepal, and some villages of Bara, Parsa (Simara), Rautahat of Tarai districts. The WTD is also known as 'khando-ke or khando-kai' within the Eastern Tamang region of Sangkhuwasabha, Okhladhunga, Bhojpur, Dhankuta and outside Nepal Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Asam of India. The WTD and khando-ke or khando-kai deemed as a classical dialect by them.
2.6 Eastern Tamang Dialect (ETD)
In the experience and fieldwork of the researcher self, majorly eastern Tamang is spoken in East of Kathmandu to Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Northeast of Makwanpur, Kavre, Sindhupalchok, Sindhuli, Dolkha, Ramechap, far eastern Nepal and Bhutan, Darjeeling, Sikkim, Assam of India.
Within the Eastern Tamang Dialect (henceforth, ETD), two major dialects namely 'Khando-ke/Khando-kai' and 'palco-ke' general eastern' are spoken. Between them, 'Khando-ke/Khando-kai' is the dialect related to WTD.
The The above-mentioned dialect classification is a general concept. For in-depth analysis, Tamang's socio-linguistic survey, and research should carried out.
2.7 Tamang Language in Use
A few books (9 folios) found written in classical monastic writing of the Tamang language (Tamang: 2000). However, today Tamang language has also accessed in media such as print media, radio/FM broadcasting media, television, and Internet web publishing. At present more than one dozen FM radio broadcasting media cover the Tamang program in the Tamang language.
And in print media, the Nepal government's official newspaper Gorkhapatra National Daily also covers the Tamang language page twice a month in 'Gorkhapatra Naya Nepal' Tamang Language Page (See: Appendix-2). Besides, Zambuling Weekly, Chhar Gongma monthly, Dazang Tamang Literary Journal also publishes in the Tamang language.
Outside Nepal, the state government of Sikkim, India, has included Tamang language as a subject in primary education. They have published Tamang textbooks for class I-VII. And the government of Sikkim's official newsletter entitled Sikkim Herald fortnightly regularly publishes in Tamang language and distributed free of cost.
This development of Tamang languages produces literacy materials (formal and non-formal educational textbooks) and works of literature (books on poems, folk stories and history), newsletter, magazines, music albums, making video films, etc.
From the viewpoint of the language used in FM Radio broadcasting media, Tamang language has occupied the second position on broadcasting media (it shows that the survey on 'FM radio listeners' done by Martine Chautari). According to audio music producers and distributors, it has covered a wider market in the field of music. Now, Tamang language also used in the IT field and another social network like Facebook, SMS, and chatting on the Internet and e-mail (Audio and visual).
2.8 Tamyig: Tamang Script and Writing
The Tamang's writing system is defined as Tamyig 'Tamang script'. Here, the word 'Tam' [tam] represents the Tamang of short-form Tam. So that it carried the meaning of Tamang nation as well as Tamang people, Tamang language, and representation of Tamang identity in terms of linguistic meaning and the 'yig' written forms of Tamang speeches or symbolic representation of Tamang sounds or in other terms Tamang script.
Tamyig writing is a derived and developed form of 'Chyoiyig' religious script commonly known name of the script is U-chen. U-chen means 'central standard' or 'central script' generally understood Buddhist religious script of the Himalayan region. In Tibet, it is known and used to say 'Boiyig' (Tibetan script), in Bhutan it is known as 'Zoiyig', in Sikkim it is known as Lhoyig, in Mongolia it is known as Horyig etc.
Tamyig Tamang script is basically the syllabic writing and script. It is very much like Lichavi and Gupta script. Its writing left to right. It has vowels for common root ཨ [a] with other diacritics and separate consonant symbols.
Lack of realization about their traditional monastic literacy system some scholars say that Tamang is unwritten languages but it has its learning system with writing[4]. In classical Tamang language many books regard the history, origin, genealogical accounts', culture conducts of the Tamang people. The classical Tamang works of literature created in written forms of Tamang religious writings. Those of traditional use of writing signifies that the classical writing system of Tamang. This writing system is known and defined the Tamyig.
After the restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal, based on Tamang manuscripts the Tamang organization has developed more scientific orthography in Tamyig. In 1996 including the Tamang language spoken in Sikkim six languages declared as the state language of Sikkim by the state government in India.
After the adoption of the Tamang language as the State Language of Sikkim a translator and writer has been appointed permanently and the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly of Sikkim have been publishing yearly in Tamyig script. The government of Sikkim's official newsletter entitled 'Sikkim Herald' began to publish regularly in Tamang language with Tamyig script, since 2000 CE.
The Sikkim government has also applied Tamang language and script in education. Textbooks in Tamyig script for class I-VII were already published and implemented by the Sikkim government. And Tamang language teachers make appointed for Teaching Tamang.
The Tamang peoples first international conference (ITC) of Kathmandu declared that the Tamyig writing established authentic writing of Tamang language (2002 CE).
Tamyig accepted as an identity of Tamangs. In Tamyig, a distinct way of writing system had developed based on characteristics and features of the Tamang language, as identified phones and phonemes by linguistically.
In Nepal based on this Tamyig Tamang writing system, the primary level textbooks for class one has published under the Curriculum Development Center Sanothimi, Ministry of Education, the government of Nepal. The Government of Nepal's official National Daily Newspaper 'Gorkhapatra' has been publishing twice a month a page 'Gorkhapatra Naya Nepal' in Tamang language since 2007 CE to till now.
2.9 Genetic Relation of Tamyig Script
Most of the foreign scholars labeled for U-chen and U-med scripts as Tibetan script[5]. But these scripts are not used only by the Tibetan. All the trans-Himalayan area of the Southern part of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river of Tibet to Nepal's far western to the far eastern region, this script is well known as officially in Tibet 'U-chen'. It is the common script of all the Himalayan monastic writing[6]. The 'Lhen-jya' (Ranjana) and 'Phaga-pa' scripts and more than 25 other varieties of scripts used in this region.
The 'U-Chen' writing created in about 630 CE patronized and initiated by King Srang Chang Gambo and King sent to minister Thonmi Samboda to bring a writing system in Tibet (Rahi: 1983:401). However, it is still contentious. After that, many writing systems developed in this region. A 'Tamyig' (Tamang) is one of them.
Similarly, writing of the Dzongkha language of Bhutan, which called 'dzoi yig' by Bhutanese. The Bhutiya of Sikkim uses this script as 'Lho-Yig' in India. In Nepal, the other Tibeto-Burman languages like Mugali, Sherpa, Manange, Nar-phu, Bhote, Lho-mhi, Yolmo, and most of the Tibetan sub-family languages of Himalayan region use this script with the distinct name of the script as their Identity.
Tamyig Tamang script is an accepted script by the Tamang community nationally and internationally. Tamyig is spreading the identity of writing Tamang Language. It has its own orthographic rule and way of writing and distinct pronunciation with Tamang Phonemes.
[1] Beams J (1867), Hunter w.w.(1868), Dalton, Edward (1872), Hodgson (1874), Shafer (1967), Grierson's linguistic survey of India (Volume-III-I, 1970), also used this term.
[2] See; Iman Singh Chemjong; Lapcha- Nepali – English dictionary, published by Nepal Academy-1969, page 260, and Limbu-Nepali-English dictionary , published by Nepal Academy-2003, page 345
[3] See; Grierson G.A.; Linguistic Survey of India (1927) 1990; page - 41-58
[4] see; "Tamyig Tamang lipi-ko bangsa Khoj, bikas ani prayog bare samchipta carca" Chhargyam" Sikkim Gantok 2005 .
[5]See; The book published by the Tibetan Exile Government's from Dhramashala, Modern Tibetan Language I, in page 4th, it mentioned that 'Tibetan alphabet in U-chän scripts…' and in page 6th 'Tibetan alphabet in U-me script.' That makes clear that the name of the script is not Tibetan script whether The Tibetan peoples use this script for religious writing only and they use U-me script in their day to day public life.
[6] See; on SIL web page about Sino Tibeto-Burman languages of Nepal. 'The Ghale language of Khutang Gurkha' also uses this script. See; on SIL web page about Sino Tibeto-Burman languages of Nepal. 'The Ghale language of Khutang Gurkha' also uses this script.
(Translated by Rajendra Thokar)
Comments
Post a Comment