Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-08-22T12:46:14Z

Created a new article

New page

{{Short description|Tibeto-Burman language of Sikkim, Nepal and Bhutan}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox language
| name = Lepcha
| altname = Róng ríng
| nativename = {{lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰛᰩᰵᰛᰧᰵᰶ}}}}
| region = [[Sikkim]], [[India]]; parts of [[Nepal]] and [[Bhutan]]
| speakers = 66,500
| date = 2011-2013
| ref = <ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/lep|title=Lepcha|work=Ethnologue|access-date=2018-08-08|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011Census/Language_MTs.html|title=Statement 1: Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues - 2011|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2018-07-07}}</ref>
| familycolor = Sino-Tibetan
| fam2 = [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burman]]
| fam3 = [[Himalayish]]
| script = [[Lepcha script]] [[Tibetan script]]
| nation = {{flag|India}}
* [[Sikkim]]
| iso3 = lep
| notice = IPA
| glotto = lepc1244
| glottorefname = Lepcha
| image = File:Róng ríng in Lepcha language script.svg
| imagecaption = The word 'Róng ríng' written in Lepcha (Róng) Script
}}
{{Contains special characters|Uncommon Unicode}}
'''Lepcha language''', or '''Róng language''' ([[Lepcha script|Lepcha]]: {{Lang|lep|{{Script|Lepc|ᰛᰩᰵᰛᰧᰵᰶ}}}}; ''Róng ríng''), is a [[Himalayish languages|Himalayish language]] spoken by the [[Lepcha people]] in [[Sikkim]], [[India]] and parts of [[West Bengal]], [[Nepal]] and [[Bhutan]].

Despite spirited attempts to preserve the language, Lepcha has already effectively been lost everywhere in favour of Nepali.{{Citation needed|date=April 2023}} The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) lists Lepcha as an endangered language with the following characterization.

The Lepcha language is spoken in Sikkim and Darjeeling district in West Bengal of India. The 1991 Indian census counted 39,342 speakers of Lepcha. Lepcha is considered to be one of the indigenous languages of the area in which it is spoken. Unlike most other languages of the Himalayas, the Lepcha people have their own indigenous script (the world's largest collection of old Lepcha manuscripts is kept in Leiden, with over 180 Lepcha books).

Lepcha is the language of instruction in some schools in Sikkim. In comparison to other Tibeto-Burman languages, it has been given considerable attention in the literature. Nevertheless, many important aspects of the Lepcha language and culture still remain undescribed.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

There are very few remaining households where the younger generation actively speaks the language, and these households are few and far between. The entire Lepcha area is bilingual. Revitalization efforts are minimum and have had no major impact in conserving the language where it was indigenously spoken. Dwindling population and culture loss have rendered the use of Lepcha superficial and its importance has remained confined to only where cultural and ceremonial activities where it is required as a part of a tradition is endured.{{citation needed|date=April 2023}}

==Population==
Lepcha is spoken by minorities in the Indian states of [[Sikkim]] and [[West Bengal]], as well as parts of [[Nepal]] and [[Bhutan]]. Where it is spoken, it is considered to be an aboriginal language, pre-dating the arrival of the [[Tibetan languages]] ([[Sikkimese Tibetan language|Sikkimese]], [[Dzongkha]], and others) and more recent [[Nepali language]]. Lepcha speakers comprise four distinct communities: the Renjóngmú of [[Sikkim]]; the Támsángmú of [[Kalimpong]], [[Kurseong]], and [[Mirik]]; the ʔilámmú of [[Ilam District]], [[Nepal]]; and the Promú of southwestern [[Bhutan]]. Lepcha-speaking groups in India are larger than those in Nepal and Bhutan.<ref name=Plaisier2007>{{cite book|title=A grammar of Lepcha |volume=5 |series=Tibetan studies library: Languages of the greater Himalayan region |first=Heleen |last=Plaisier |publisher=[[Brill Publishers|BRILL]] |year=2007 |isbn=978-90-04-15525-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DpCXEc_9RWcC}}</ref><ref name=NIL/>

The Indian census reported 50,000 Lepcha speakers,<ref name=e18>{{Ethnologue18|lep}}</ref> however the number of native Lepcha speakers in India may be closer to 30,000.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

==Classification==
Lepcha is difficult to classify, but [[George van Driem]] (2001) suggests that it may be closest to the [[Mahakiranti languages]], a subfamily of the [[Himalayish languages]].<ref name=vanDriem2001>{{cite book|first=George |last=van Driem |year=2001 |title=Languages of the Himalayas: An Ethnolinguistic Handbook of the Greater Himalayan Region |publisher=Brill |isbn=90-04-12062-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fiavPYCz4dYC}}</ref>

Lepcha is internally diverse, showing lexical influences from different majority language groups across the four main Lepcha communities. According to Plaisier (2007), these [[Nepali language|Nepali]] and [[Sikkimese Tibetan language|Sikkimese Tibetan]] influences do not amount to a dialectical difference.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

[[Roger Blench]] (2013) suggests that Lepcha has [[Austroasiatic languages#Possible extinct branches|an Austroasiatic substratum]], which originated from a now-extinct branch of Austroasiatic that he calls "Rongic".<ref>Blench, Roger. 2013. [https://www.academia.edu/5562335/Rongic_a_vanished_branch_of_Austroasiatic Rongic: a vanished branch of Austroasiatic].</ref>

==Features==
Lepcha is a non-[[tone (linguistics)|tonal]] Sino-Tibetan language, although it does have phonemic stress or pitch that may be marked in the [[Lepcha script]].<ref name=Plaisier2007/>{{rp|37}} Much of its lexicon is composed of monosyllabic elements.<ref name=NIL>{{cite web |url=http://sikkim.nic.in/north/html/lepcha.htm |title=Lepchas and their Tradition |publisher=National Informatics Centre, Sikkim |work=Official Portal of NIC Sikkim State Centre |date=2002-01-25 |access-date=2011-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017203541/http://sikkim.nic.in/north/html/lepcha.htm |archive-date=17 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Notably, words that are commonly considered [[obscenity|obscene]] or [[taboo]] in other languages are not treated as such by native speakers.<ref name=NIL/>

==Script and romanization==
{{main|Lepcha script}}
The [[Lepcha script]] (also known as "róng") is a [[syllabary|syllabic]] script featuring a variety of special marks and [[Typographic ligature|ligatures]]. Its genealogy is unclear. Early Lepcha manuscripts were written vertically, a sign of [[chinese writing system|Chinese]] influence.<ref name=Coulmas>{{cite book|last=Coulmas |first=Florian |title=The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Writing Systems |publisher=Blackwell |year=1996 |isbn=0-631-21481-X |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y3KdxBqjg5cC}}</ref> Prior to the development of the Lepcha script, Lepcha literary works were composed in the [[Tibetan script]].<ref name=NIL/>

Lepcha language is romanized according to varying schemes, the prevailing system being that of Mainwaring (1876). Most linguists, including Plaisier (2007), whose system is used in this article, have followed modified versions of Mainwaring's system. Other linguists and historians have used systems based on European languages such as English, French, and German.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

==Phonology==

===Consonants===
Lepcha consonants appear in the chart below, following Plaisier (2007):<ref name=Plaisier2007/>{{rp|21–32}}
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan=2|
! [[Labial consonant|Labial]]
! [[Dental consonant|Dental]]
! [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! [[Retroflex consonant|Retroflex]]
! [[Palato-alveolar consonant|Palato- alveolar]]
! [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|- align=center
!colspan=2|[[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
|{{IPAlink|m}} {{angbr|m}} ||{{IPAlink|n}} {{angbr|n}} || || || ||{{IPAlink|ɲ}} {{angbr|ny}} ||{{IPAlink|ŋ}} {{angbr|ng}} ||
|- align=center
!rowspan=3|[[Plosive consonant|Plosive]]
![[voicelessness|voiceless]]
|{{IPAlink|p}} {{angbr|p}} ||{{IPAlink|t}} {{angbr|t}} || ||{{IPAlink|ʈ}} {{angbr|tr}} || ||{{IPAlink|c}} {{angbr|c}} ||{{IPAlink|k}} {{angbr|k}} ||{{IPAlink|ʔ}} {{angbr|ʔ}}
|- align=center
![[aspiration (phonetics)|aspirated]]
|{{IPAlink|pʰ}} {{angbr|ph}} ||{{IPAlink|tʰ}} {{angbr|th}} || ||{{IPAlink|ʈʰ}} {{angbr|thr}} || ||{{IPAlink|cʰ}} {{angbr|ch}} ||{{IPAlink|kʰ}} {{angbr|kh}} ||
|- align=center
![[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]
|{{IPAlink|b}} {{angbr|b}} ||{{IPAlink|d}} {{angbr|d}} || ||{{IPAlink|ɖ}} {{angbr|dr}} || || ||{{IPAlink|ɡ}} {{angbr|g}} ||
|- align=center
!rowspan=3|[[Affricate consonant|Affricate]]
![[voicelessness|voiceless]]
| || ||{{IPAlink|ts}} {{angbr|ts}} || || || || ||
|- align=center
![[aspiration (phonetics)|aspirated]]
| || ||{{IPAlink|tsʰ}} {{angbr|tsh}} || || || || ||
|- align=center
![[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]
| || ||rowspan="2"|{{IPAlink|z}}~{{IPAlink|dz}} {{angbr|z}} || || || || ||
|- align=center
!rowspan=2|[[Fricative consonant|Fricative]]
![[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]
|{{IPAlink|v}} {{angbr|v}} || || ||{{IPAlink|ʒ}} {{angbr|j}}|| || ||
|- align=center
![[voicelessness|voiceless]]
|{{IPAlink|f}} {{angbr|f}} || ||{{IPAlink|s}} {{angbr|s}} || || {{IPAlink|ʃ}} {{angbr|sh}}|| || ||
|- align=center
!colspan=2|[[Approximant]]
|{{IPAlink|w}} {{angbr|w}}||{{IPAlink|l}} {{angbr|l}}|| || || ||{{IPAlink|j}} {{angbr|y}}|| ||{{IPAlink|h}} {{angbr|h}}
|- align=center
!colspan=2|[[Trill consonant|Trill]]
| || ||{{IPAlink|r}} {{angbr|r}}|| || || || ||
|}
Retroflex phonemes /ʈ/, /ʈʰ/, and /ɖ/ are written in [[Lepcha script]] as ᰀᰥ''kr'', ᰝᰥ ''hr'', and ᰃᰥ ''gr'', respectively. Most, though not all, instances of retroflex consonants indicate a word is of [[Tibetic languages|Tibetan]] origin. To distinguish this retroflex sound in [[Lepcha script]], a dot may be written underneath: ᰀᰥ᰷, ᰝᰥ᰷, and ᰃᰥ᰷. Native instances of non-retroflex ᰀᰥ ''kr'', ᰝᰥ ''hr'', and ᰃᰥ ''gr'' may be pronounced either as written or as {{angbr|tr}}, {{angbr|thr}}, and {{angbr|dr}}. For example, ''tagrikup'', "boy," may be said either {{IPA|[ta ɡri kɯʔp̚]}} or {{IPA|[ta ɖi kɯʔp̚]}}.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

Lepcha has three glide consonants that may occur after certain initial consonants: {{IPA|/r/}}, {{IPA|/j/}}, and {{IPA|/l/}}. When the phoneme {{IPA|/r/}} operates as a glide, it can combine with {{IPA|/j/}} as a double-glide: ᰕᰥᰤᰩᰮ ''mryóm'', "to spread over the ground, creep." Notably, syllables with the glide {{IPA|/l/}} are given their own independent forms in the [[Lepcha script]].<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

Velar consonants {{IPA|/k/}} and {{IPA|/ɡ/}} preceding front vowels {{IPA|/i/}} or {{IPA|/e/}} are palatalized as {{IPA|[kʲ]}} and {{IPA|[ɡʲ]}}, respectively. Fricatives {{IPA|/s/}} and {{IPA|/ʃ/}} are merged before {{IPA|/i/}}.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

Lepcha speakers tend not to distinguish between {{IPA|/z/}} and {{IPA|/ʒ/}}, pronouncing both as {{IPA|[z]}}~{{IPA|[dz]}}~{{IPA|[ʒ]}}. Additionally, initial {{IPA|/ŋ/}} is occasionally realized as {{IPA|[ɦ]}}. Under the influence of [[Nepali language|Nepali]], some Lepcha speakers have lost the distinction between {{IPA|/pʰ/}} and {{IPA|/f/}}, and between {{IPA|/v/}} and {{IPA|/w/}}.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

Of the above phonemes, only {{IPA|/m/, /n/, /ŋ/, /k/, /t/, /p/, /r/}}, and {{IPA|/l/}} may be syllable-final. Native speakers tend to neutralize the difference between final {{IPA|/n/}} and {{IPA|/ŋ/}}. In syllable-final position, stops are realized as an unreleased stop, usually pronounced with a simultaneous {{IPA|/ʔ/}}: for example, {{IPA|/k/}} becomes {{IPA|[ʔk̚]}}.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

===Vowels===
According to Plaisier (2007), Lepcha has eight vowels:<ref name=Plaisier2007/>{{rp|17–21}}
{| class="wikitable"
!rowspan="2"| !! [[Front vowel|Front]] !! [[Central vowel|Central]] !!colspan="2"| [[Back vowel|Back]]
|-
!colspan="3"| [[Unrounded vowel|Unrounded]]
! [[Rounded vowel|Rounded]]
|-
|- align=center
! [[Close vowel|Close]]
| {{IPA|i}} {{angbr|i}}, {{angbr|í}} || || {{IPA|ɯ}} {{angbr|u}} || {{IPA|u}} {{angbr|ú}}
|- align=center
! [[Close-mid vowel|Close-mid]]
| rowspan="3"|{{IPA|e}}~{{IPA|ɛ}} {{angbr|e}}|| || || {{IPA|o}} {{angbr|o}}
|- align=center
! [[Mid vowel|Mid]]
| {{IPA|ə}} {{angbr|a}}, {{angbr|â}} || ||
|- align=center
! [[Open-mid vowel|Open-mid]]
| || || {{IPA|ɔ}} {{angbr|ó}}
|- align=center
! [[Open vowel|Open]]
| || {{IPA|a}} {{angbr|á}} || ||
|}
The phoneme denoted by {{angbr|í}} is shortened and appears in closed syllables; {{angbr|i}} is longer and appears in open syllables. The phoneme /e/ is realized as {{IPA|[e]}} in open syllables and in closed syllables before {{IPA|/ŋ/}} or {{IPA|/k/}}. Closed syllables ending in /p/, /m/, /l/, /n/, /r/, and /t/ show free variation between {{IPA|[e]}}, {{IPA|[ɛ]}}, and even {{IPA|[ɪ]}}. Distinctions between /o/ and /ɔ/ are often lost among non-literate speakers, particularly those highly fluent in [[Nepali language]], which does not contrast the sounds.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

==Grammar==
Lepcha grammar features nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs. Word order is typically [[subject–object–verb]] (SOV). Lepcha morphology is somewhat [[agglutination|agglutinative]], though most bare Lepcha lexicon is made up of one- or two-syllable words. Nouns are arranged into either head-first or head-last noun phrases. Relative clauses and genitive phrases precede nouns, whereas markers for demonstratives, definiteness, number, case, and other particles follow the noun. Lepcha is an [[ergative language]], where the ergative case indicates transitivity and completedness of the event. There is no grammatical agreement between different parts of speech (i.e. verb conjugation). Adjectives follow nouns they modify, function as predicates, or stand independently as nominal heads. Adverbs generally directly precede verbs, and [[reduplication]] is generally productive for adverbs of time (e.g. ''nám'', "year" → ''nám-nám'', "yearly").<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

===Nouns===
According to Plaisier (2007), Lepcha has only two true "[[grammatical case|cases]]" that modify the noun morphologically: the [[definite article]] -''re'' and the [[dative case]] marker -''m''. All other noun markers, including for example the genitive marker, are actually invariable postpositions. A series noun markers may follow a single noun. Together, these cases and postpositions are:<ref name=Plaisier2007/>
{| class="wikitable"
! Postposition !! Meaning
|-
| -ᰠᰴ / -ᰎᰴ -sang/-pong || plural
|-
| -ᰛᰬ -re|| definite, topic
|-
| -ᰍᰪ/ᰍᰪᰰ -nu/nun|| ergative, ablative
|-
| - ᰮ -m || dative
|-
| -ᰠᰦ -sá || genitive
|-
| -ᰀᰦ -ká || locative
|-
| -ᰕᰪ -mu || only
|-
| -ᰉᰬᰳ -nyet || both
|}

Plurals are marked differently according to whether they are human (-''sang'') or non-human (-''pong'') nouns. Notably, the plural is not used when the noun is followed by a number.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

According to Plaisier (2007), Lepcha [[personal pronoun]]s are as follows:<ref name=Plaisier2007/>
{| class="wikitable"
! !! Singular (Oblique) !! Dual !! Plural
|-
! First person
| ᰃᰨ go ᰀᰠᰪ ''kasu'' || ᰀᰦᰉᰧᰶ kányí || ᰀᰦᰚᰫ káyú
|-
! Second person
|ᰝᰩ hó ᰣᰦᰌᰨ ''ʔádo'' || ᰣᰦᰉᰧᰶ ʔányí || ᰣᰦᰚᰫ ʔáyú
|-
! Third person
| ᰝᰪ hu ᰝᰪᰌᰨ ''hudo'' || ᰝᰪᰉᰧᰶ hunyí || ᰝᰪᰚᰫ huyú
|}
Oblique forms appear in italics above. Lepcha personal pronouns can refer only to humans; otherwise demonstratives are used. Personal pronouns may take the definite article ''-re''.<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

====Thematic classes====
Many Lepcha nouns can be grouped into one of several classes based on associated characteristics. For example, many animal names begin with the [[Lepcha script]] syllabic /sâ/: ᰠᰲᰶ ''sâr'' means "goat," ᰠᰶᰛᰤᰨᰮ ''sâryom'' means "otter," ᰠᰶᰜᰩᰭ ''sâlók'' means "rhinoceros," and ᰠᰝᰪ ''sâhu'' means "monkey." Other noun classes include /sâ/ and /ka/ for plants, and /pe/ or /pâ/ for snakes and bamboo products.<ref name=NIL/><ref name=dictionary>{{cite book|title=Dictionary of the Lepcha-language
|editor=Albert Grünwedel |first=George Byres |last=Mainwaring |publisher=Unger bros. |year=1898 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hzlkAAAAMAAJ}} (multiple entries)</ref>

===Verbs===
Lepcha verbs generally function as [[predicate (grammar)|predicate]]s or, in [[relative clause]]s, as modifiers before a head-noun. Verbs may also be nominalized by a combination of suffixes. For example, ''zo'', "eat," may be suffixed to produce ''zo-shang-re'', "eating."<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

Many [[intransitive verb]]s incorporate a [[causative]] -/y/- [[infix]], sometimes followed by a -/t/ suffix, to take a [[transitive verb|transitive]] sense: ᰕᰦᰭ ''mák'', "die" → ᰕᰤᰦᰭ ''myák'', "kill;" ᰏᰶ ''plâ'', "come forth" → ᰏᰤᰶ ''plyâ'', "bring forth;" ᰄᰫ ''glú'', "fall down" → ᰄᰤᰳ/ᰄᰤᰬᰳ ''glyat/glyet'', "drop."<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

Verbs are followed by grammatical suffixes and particles. Verbal particles indicating sureness, polite requests, authoritativeness, dubiousness, and other nonlexical information follow clauses. Below is a chart of such verb- and clause-final suffixes and particles largely following Plaisier (2007):<ref name=Plaisier2007/>
{| class="wikitable"
! Suffix or particle !! Meaning
|-
| -wám/-ʔám/-bám || progressive
|-
| nón || resultant
|-
| -tho || exhaustive
|-
| -hát || perfective
|-
| -shang || infinitive
|-
| -bú || factual
|-
| -re || definite
|-
| ká || [[adhortative]]
|-
| gó || question
|-
| le || polite request
|-
| ma || assertive
|-
| ce || authoritative
|-
| te || dubiousness
|-
| pá || certainty
|-
| lyók || inference
|}

Verbs are negated by a [[circumfix]], ''ma–n(e)'': ''khut'', "to be able," becomes ''ma-khut-ne'', "to be unable."<ref name=Plaisier2007/>

== Vocabulary ==
According to [https://www.freelang.net/online/lepcha.php?lg=gb freelang.net]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freelang.net/online/lepcha.php?lg=gb|title=Translation Lepcha-English-Lepcha - FREELANG online dictionary}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Caption text
|-
! English !! Lepcha (Latin) !! Lepcha (Róng/Lepcha script)
|-
| Lady || Ku-mo || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰪᰕᰨ}}}}
|-
| Let || Kón || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰩᰰ}}}}
|-
| Proceed || Dí || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰌᰧᰶ}}}}
|-
| Reach a height || Thók || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰋᰩᰭ}}}}
|-
| Riverbank || Klóp || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰁᰩᰱ}}}}
|-
| A cut || Mó || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰕᰩ}}}}
|-
| To pull || Krút || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰥᰫᰳ}}}}
|-
| Go || Nóng || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰍᰩᰵ}}}}
|-
| Flabby || Thyor || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰋᰤᰨᰲ}}}}
|-
| Reflective Light || Lóng || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰜᰩᰵ}}}}
|-
| Palm || Lyók || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰜᰤᰩᰭ}}}}
|-
| To be short || Tan || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰊᰰ}}}}
|-
| Meat || Ke-rung || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰬᰛᰪᰵ}}}}
|-
| Overclouded || Muk || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰕᰪᰭ}}}}
|-
| What comes first || Ták || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰊᰦᰭ}}}}
|-
| Mother || A-mo || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰣᰕᰨ}}}}
|-
| To knot || Tyep || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰊᰤᰬᰱ}}}}
|-
| A spec of Sterculia || Ke-hlyám kun || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰬᰞᰤᰮ ᰀᰪᰰ}}}}
|-
| Be on strong legs || Krang || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰥᰴ}}}}
|-
| Dirt || Me-ri || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰕᰬᰛᰧ}}}}
|-
| To slice || Líp || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰜᰧᰶ}}}}
|-
| Entire || Shem || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰡᰬᰮ}}}}
|-
| Cold || Hyáng || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰝᰤᰦᰵ}}}}
|-
| To be drawn together || Chom || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰇᰨᰮ}}}}
|-
| One's Self || Te-do || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰊᰬᰌᰨ}}}}
|-
| Wide || Veng || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰟᰬᰵ}}}}
|-
| To arrest || Tho || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰋᰨ}}}}
|-
| To crush || Shíp || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰡᰧᰶ}}}}
|-
| Mouth || A-bong || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰣᰓᰨᰵ}}}}
|-
| To twist || Kar || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰲ}}}}
|-
| Arrow || Sa-li || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰠᰜᰧ}}}}
|-
| Egg || Tí || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰊᰧᰶ}}}}
|-
| To sit || Ngan || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰅᰰ}}}}
|-
| Flow round || Kyúl || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰤᰫᰯ}}}}
|-
| Overclouded || Pe-mang || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰎᰬᰕᰴ}}}}
|-
| House || A-dóng || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰣᰌᰩᰵ}}}}
|-
| Carry || Bú || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰓᰫ}}}}
|-
| Dream || Mong || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰕᰨᰵ}}}}
|-
| A corner || Tung-kyang || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰊᰪᰵᰀᰤᰴ}}}}
|-
| Basket || Dyóng || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰌᰤᰩᰵ}}}}
|-
| Large || Túng || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰊᰫᰵ}}}}
|-
| Husband || Evo || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰣᰬᰟᰨ}}}}
|-
| Grain || Gró || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰃᰥᰩ}}}}
|-
| Rice basket || Ku-mu || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰪᰕᰪ}}}}
|-
| Placenta || A-yeng-tyol || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰣᰚᰬᰵᰊᰤᰨᰯ}}}}
|-
| Quick || Rem || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰛᰬᰮ}}}}
|-
| Sew || Hrap || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰝᰥᰱ}}}}
|-
| A spec of Solanum || Ke-lim-bi || {{huge|{{Script|Lepc|ᰀᰬᰜᰧᰮᰓᰧ}}}}
|}

==See also==
{{Incubator|code= lep}}
*[[Lepcha script]]
*[[Sikkimese Tibetan language]]
*[[Languages of Nepal]]
*[[Languages of India]]
*[[Languages of Bhutan]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite web|url=http://www.lepcha.info/ |title=Information on Lepcha Language and Culture |first=Heleen |last=Plaisier |date=2010-11-13 |access-date=2011-04-16}}
*{{cite book|first=George Byres |last=Mainwaring |title=A grammar of the Róng (Lepcha) language, as it exists in the Dorjeling and Sikim hills |publisher=Printed by C. B. Lewis, Baptist Mission Press |place=Calcutta |year=1876 }}

{{Sino-Tibetan languages}}
{{Languages of Northeast India}}
{{Languages of Bhutan}}
{{Languages of Nepal}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lepcha Language}}
[[Category:Bodish languages]]
[[Category:Languages of Sikkim]]
[[Category:Languages of Nepal]]
[[Category:Languages of Bhutan]]
[[Category:Unclassified Sino-Tibetan languages]]
[[Category:Languages of Koshi Province]]

Lepcha language - Revision history

Rrajani: improved citations per sources additionally and cleaned formatting after review

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article