Western Tamang - Nepali Dictionary

Tamang is a vibrant language spoken by the Tamang community. According to the 2011 Census of Nepal, Tamang ranks as the fifth most spoken language in the country, with 5.1% of the population conversing in it. It is part of the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The Tamang community is predominantly located around the Kathmandu Valley, but members of the Tamang ethnic group can also be found in various other districts across Nepal. In recognition of its cultural significance, the Nepal government officially classified Tamang as an indigenous ethnic community in 2058 VS. Furthermore, both the interim constitution of 2063 VS and the recent constitution of 2072 VS have recognized Tamang as a national language.

The 'Do:ra song' recounts the migration of Western Tamang people from Tibet into Nepal, entering through 'Same' in the Himalayas. This song highlights the presence of Tamang communities in various locations such as 'Rhirhap' and 'Gyagarden', below 'Bompo' and 'Lambu', and just above 'Same'. According to Tamang cultural beliefs, as articulated by Lama, Bompo, and Lambu, the Earth's tail is thought to be in the north and its head in the south. Consequently, in Tamang funeral rites, the deceased's body is oriented upwards with the head pointing south before cremation. The term 'Same' is derived from 'Sa' (Earth) and 'me' (Tail), symbolizing the 'tail of the Earth'. This reflects a cultural belief in the transition from the tail to the head.

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

This bilingual dictionary is a collaborative effort of the Western Tamang speech community from the aforementioned districts. Each Tamang word (the source language) in the dictionary is translated into Nepali (the target language), making it an invaluable resource for comparative linguistic studies. However, the number of Western Tamang speakers is diminishing, largely due to the pervasive influence of Nepali, the lingua franca. This shift poses a significant threat to the survival of Western Tamang as a mother tongue. Hence, this dictionary plays a crucial role in the preservation, promotion, and development of the Western Tamang language.

We are committed to continuously improving this dictionary. We warmly invite the Tamang speech community, stakeholders, readers, organizations, and other interested parties to provide their valuable feedback and suggestions for its further enhancement.

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