Western Tamang - Nepali Dictionary

Tamang is a vibrant language spoken by the Tamang community, recognized as the fifth most spoken language in Nepal according to the 2011 Census, with 5.1 percent of the population. It is part of the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family. The majority of Tamang speakers reside around the Kathmandu Valley, but the Tamang ethnic group is spread across various districts in Nepal. Acknowledging its cultural significance, the Nepal government recognized Tamang as an indigenous ethnic community in 2058 vs, and it has been prioritized as a national language in the interim constitution of 2063 vs and the 2072 vs constitution.

The 'Do:ra song' narrates the migration of Western Tamang people from Tibet into Nepal via 'Same' in the Himalayas. It highlights Tamang settlements in areas like 'Rhirhap', 'Gyagarden', below 'Bompo' and 'Lambu', and just above 'Same'. According to Lama, Bompo, and Lambu, the northern part of the Earth is considered the tail and the southern part the head, which influences their burial practices; the deceased are taken upwards with their head positioned southward before cremation. In Tamang culture, 'Sa' represents the Earth and 'me' the tail, thus 'Same' symbolizes 'the tail of the Earth'. It is believed that significant changes occur as one moves from the tail to the head.

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

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 declining as they increasingly adopt Nepali, the dominant lingua franca, posing a significant challenge to the preservation of Western Tamang as a mother tongue. This dictionary plays a crucial role in the preservation, promotion, and development of the language.

Continuous improvement is essential for the dictionary's advancement and maturity. The Tamang speech community, stakeholders, readers, organizations, and other relevant authorities are encouraged to provide insightful comments and feedback.

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