Nyen language

Nyenkha
Native toBhutan
Native speakers
8,700 (2010)[1]
Tibetan script
Language codes
ISO 639-3neh
Glottolognyen1254
ELPNyenkha

Nyenkha (Dzongkha: འནྱེན་ཁ་; Wylie: 'Nyen-kha; also called "'Nyenkha", "Henkha", "Lap", "Nga Ked", and "Mangsdekha") is an East Bodish language spoken by about 10,000 people in the eastern, northern, and western areas of the Black Mountains.[1] Speakers live primarily between the Tang Chuu to the east and Mangde Chhu to the west, from the town of Trongsa in Trongsa District; along Black River passes in the Trongsa District villages of Taktse and Usar; to in Ridha and Tashiding villages, and Phobji, Dangchu, and Sephu Gewogs and surrounding villages in southeast Wangdue Phodrang District.[2][3]

Nyenkha is related to the East Bodish Bumthangkha and Kurtöpkha,[3] with 75–77% and 69% lexical similarity, respectively,[1]: 76  however they are not mutually intelligible. Dialects within Nyenkha show variation in tone and vocabulary. Dialects are generally named for their villages, such that names for the overall language are largely confined to academia.[1]: 72–74 

  1. ^ a b c d Dorji, Jagar (Summer 2011). "Hen Kha: A Dialect of Mangde Valley in Bhutan" (PDF). Journal of Bhutan Studies. 24: 69–86. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-01-27.
  2. ^ van Driem, George L. (1993). "Language Policy in Bhutan". London: SOAS. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-11-01. Retrieved 2011-01-18.
  3. ^ a b "Nyenkha". Ethnologue Online. Dallas: SIL International. 2006. Retrieved 2011-01-18.