Western Tamang Dictionary

Western Tamang - Nepali Dictionary

Tamang is a language spoken by the Tamang speech community. According to the 2011 Census in Nepal, Tamang is the fifth most spoken language, with 5.1 percent of the population. It is part of the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The majority of the Tamang community resides around the Kathmandu Valley, though they are also spread across various districts in the country. Recognized for their unique cultural identity, the Tamang were officially listed as an indigenous ethnic group by the Nepal government in 2058 VS. Additionally, the interim constitution of 2063 VS and the recent constitution of 2072 VS have both recognized Tamang as a national language.

The 'Do:ra song' narrates the migration of the Western Tamang from Tibet, entering Nepal through 'Same' in the Himalayas. This indicates the presence of Tamang communities in various locations such as 'Rhirhap', 'Gyagarden', below 'Bompo' and 'Lambu', and just above 'Same'. According to the traditions of Lama, Bompo, and Lambu, the northern part of the Earth is considered its tail, and the southern part its head. In Tamang culture, this belief influences the treatment of the deceased, who are carried upwards with their heads facing south before cremation. The term 'Same' is interpreted as 'the tail of the Earth' in Tamang, symbolizing a significant cultural belief about the Earth's structure and the journey from tail to head.

Despite not having its own standardized grammar, Tamang is divided into two main dialects: Eastern and Western. Eastern Tamang, spoken east of the Trisuli River and originating from the Langtang Himal, is referred to as 'Syarba'. In contrast, Western Tamang, spoken in districts such as Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Lamjung, Chitawan, and Kanchanpur, is known as 'Nhurba' or 'Nhuppa'.

This bilingual dictionary is a collaborative effort by members of the Western Tamang speech community from the aforementioned districts. Each Tamang word (source language) is translated into Nepali (target language), making it a valuable resource for comparative linguistic studies. However, the number of Western Tamang speakers is decreasing, with a shift towards Nepali, the dominant lingua franca. This poses a significant challenge to the preservation of Western Tamang as a mother tongue, underscoring the importance of this dictionary in efforts to preserve, promote, and develop the language.

There is always room for enhancing this dictionary, and feedback from the speech community, stakeholders, readers, organizations, and other relevant parties is greatly appreciated for its ongoing improvement, advancement, and maturity.

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Last updated on Sep 29, 2024

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