Lhomi (ल्होमी‎)

Lhomi is a member of the Central Bodish branch of the Tibeto-Burman language family. It is spoken mainly in the Kosi Zone of eastern Nepal, particularly in the Arun valley in northern Sankhuwasabha district. In 2014 there were about 7,000 speakers of Lhomi in Nepal.

There are also about 1,000 speakers of Lhomi in Tibet Automomous Region of China, and about 1,320 in Darjeeling in West Bengal in the northeast of India.

Lhomi is also known as Lhoket, Lhomi dzyükki keccyok or Lhomiki keccyok. The name Lhomi means "southern language". Lhomi speakers are also known as Shingsaba.

Lhomi is used in literature and newspapers in Nepal, and is written with the Devanagari alphabet. Most Lhomi speakers also speak Nepali, and speakers of Eastern Tamang, Gurung, Khaling, Naaba and Thudam use Lhomi as a second language.

Lhomi alphabet and pronunciation

Download an alphabet chart for Lhomi (Excel)

Sample text (Mathew 1:1-3)

येशु ख्रीष्ट् दाऊद् धङ् अब्राहाम्गी ज्यीृत्ल कीब बेत् । खोङ्गी दुङ्ज्यीृत् हिन्दुक भियन युङ्गेन् बेत् ।
अब्राहाम्गी भु इसहाक् बेत् । इसहाक्की भु याकूब् बेत् । याकूब्गी भु यहुदा धङ् ॱनि ॱयोङ्म ॱअक् योृप्य बेत् ।
नि यहुदागी भु पेरेस् धङ् जेरहा बेत् । ॱनि उब ॱङीबीृ ॱअम दि तामार् बेत् । पेरेस्की भु हेस्रोन् बेत् । हेस्रोन्गी भु आराम् बेत् ।

Source: New Testament in Lhomi, Nepal Bible Society, Kathmandu

Translation

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram.

Source: https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Matthew-1-1/

Details provided by Biswajit Mandal (biswajitmandal[dot]bm90[at]gmail[dot]com)

Sample text (Article 1 of the UDHR)

वाङज्य धाङ् मि थोङ् छयीलेक्ल तेन कुरीक्कराङ् आमे ढोप्पनी राङ्मेने धाङ् वाङ्ज्यदी डस्सी डस्सी खुन्न योङ्गेन् बेत् । उब घायेत् स्यिरप् रिक्प ढोप्पे नाङ्नीराङ् खुन्न किगेन् बेत् । उगी भियनी च्यिक्ताङ् च्यिक्ल आज्यी नुमु तोदो मिङ्बुगी धम्जीक् स्योक्कोकेन् बेत् ।

Transliteration

Waangajng dhaang mi thong chayiilekla tena kuriikkaraang aame ḍhiippanii raangmen dhaang waangjyii ḍassii ḍassii khunna yonggen bet. Uba ghaayrt syirap rikpa ḍoppe naangniiraang khunna kigen bet. Uge bhiyanii cyiktaang cyikla aajyii numu todo mingbugii dhamjiik syokkoken bet.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Source: https://www.ohchr.org

Sample videos in Lhomi

Links

Information about Lhomi
https://www.ethnologue.com/language/lhm
A Grammar Sketch of Lhomi
https://www.indigenousvoice.com/en/indigenous-peoples/9/lhomi-shingsaba.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Tibetan_language

Tibeto-Burman languages

Achang, Arakanese, Balti, Bisu, Chocha Ngacha, Drung, Hajong, Hani, Hmar, Jingpho, Lashi, Lepcha, Lhao Vo, Lhomi, Lisu, Magar, Manipuri, Mro, Naxi, Newar, Nusu, Pahari, Tangkhul Naga, Tujia, Yolmo, Zaiwa

Languages written with the Devanāgarī alphabet

Aka-Jeru, Angika, Athpare, Avestan, Awadhi, Bahing, Balti, Bantawa, Belhare, Bhili, Bhumij, Bilaspuri, Bodo, Bhojpuri, Braj, Car, Chamling, Chhantyal, Chhattisgarhi, Chambeali, Danwar, Dhatki, Dhimal, Dhundari, Digaro Mishmi, Dogri, Doteli, Gaddi, Garhwali, Gondi, Gurung, Halbi, Haryanvi, Hill Miri, Hindi, Ho, Jarawa, Jaunsari, Jirel, Jumli, Kagate, Kannauji, Kham, Kangri, Kashmiri, Khaling, Khandeshi, Kharia, Khortha, Korku, Konkani, Kullui, Kumaoni, Kurmali, Kurukh, Kusunda, Lambadi, Limbu, Lhomi, Lhowa, Magahi, Magar, Mahasu Pahari, Maithili, Maldivian, Malto, Mandeali, Marathi, Marwari, Mewari, Mundari, Nancowry. Newar, Nepali, Nimadi, Nishi, Onge, Pahari, Pali, Pangwali, Rajasthani, Rajbanshi, Rangpuri, Sadri, Sanskrit, Santali, Saraiki, Sirmauri, Sherpa, Shina, Sindhi, Sunwar, Sylheti, Tamang, Thakali, Thangmi, Wambule, Wancho, Yakkha, Yolmo

Page last modified: 23.04.21

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