Western Tamang Dictionary

Western Tamang - Nepali Dictionary

Tamang is a vibrant language spoken by the Tamang community, a significant linguistic group within Nepal. According to the 2011 Census, Tamang ranks as the fifth most spoken language in Nepal, with 5.1% of the population conversing in it. It is part of the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The majority of Tamang speakers reside around the Kathmandu Valley, though the ethnic group is dispersed across various districts in the country. Recognized for its unique cultural identity, the Nepal government officially acknowledged Tamang as an indigenous ethnic community in 2058 VS. This recognition has been further reinforced in Nepal's interim constitution of 2063 VS and the latest constitution of 2072 VS, which lists Tamang as a national language.

The 'Do:ra song' narrates the migration of Western Tamang people from Tibet into Nepal, entering through 'Same' in the Himalayas. This historical narrative points to the presence of Tamang communities in various locations such as 'Rhirhap' and 'Gyagarden', situated below 'Bompo' and 'Lambu', and just above 'Same'. According to local beliefs held by Lama, Bompo, and Lambu, the Earth's tail points northward and its head southward, influencing the Tamang custom of carrying the deceased uphill, with their heads facing south before cremation. In Tamang culture, 'Sa' signifies the Earth and 'me' the Tail, hence 'Same' is referred to as 'the tail of the Earth'. This transition from the tail to the head symbolizes significant cultural and geographical shifts.

Despite lacking a formalized grammar, Tamang is divided into two dialects: Eastern and Western. The Eastern Tamang dialect, originating from the Langtang Himal and spoken east of the Trisuli River, is known as 'Syarba'. Conversely, the Western Tamang dialect, spoken in districts like Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Gorkha, Lamjung, Chitawan, and Kanchanpur, is referred to as 'Nhurba' or 'Nhuppa'.

This bilingual dictionary is a collaborative effort by members of the Western Tamang community from the aforementioned districts. Each Tamang word is translated into Nepali, making it an invaluable resource for comparative linguistic studies. However, the number of Western Tamang speakers is declining due to the influence of Nepali, the dominant lingua franca. This shift poses a significant threat to the preservation of Western Tamang as a mother tongue, underscoring the importance of this dictionary in efforts to conserve, promote, and develop the language.

We believe in continuous improvement and welcome insightful comments and feedback from the speech community, stakeholders, readers, organizations, and other concerned authorities to enhance the quality and maturity of this dictionary.

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