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&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;New page&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt;{{Short description|Yakthung language of eastern Nepal and India}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{For|the Bantoid language of Cameroon|Limbum language}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Infobox language&lt;br /&gt;
| name             = Limbu&lt;br /&gt;
| altname          = &lt;br /&gt;
| nativename       = {{Script|Limbu|ᤕᤠᤰᤌᤢᤱ ᤐᤠᤴ}} {{lang|lif-Latn|Yakthuṅ pan}}&lt;br /&gt;
| region           = [[Nepal]]; significant communities in [[Bhutan]]; [[Sikkim]] and [[Darjeeling district]] of [[India]]&lt;br /&gt;
| states           = [[Sikkim]] and [[Eastern Nepal]]&lt;br /&gt;
| ethnicity        = [[Limbu people|Limbu]]&lt;br /&gt;
| speakers         = {{sigfig|413,200|2}}&lt;br /&gt;
| date             = 2011–2021 censuses&lt;br /&gt;
| ref              = e27&lt;br /&gt;
| familycolor      = Sino-Tibetan&lt;br /&gt;
| fam2             = [[Tibeto-Burman languages|Tibeto-Burman]]&lt;br /&gt;
| fam3             = [[Mahakiranti languages|Mahakiranti]] (?)&lt;br /&gt;
| fam4             = [[Kiranti languages|Kiranti]]&lt;br /&gt;
| dia1             = Phedape&lt;br /&gt;
| dia2             = Chhathare&lt;br /&gt;
| dia3             = Panthare&lt;br /&gt;
| dia4             = Tambarkhole&lt;br /&gt;
| iso3             = lif&lt;br /&gt;
| glotto           = limb1266&lt;br /&gt;
| glottorefname    = Limbu&lt;br /&gt;
| script           = [[Limbu script]]&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;[[Roman script]]&lt;br /&gt;
| notice           = &lt;br /&gt;
| image            = limbu.png&lt;br /&gt;
| imagecaption     = yakthuṅ pan written in Limbu Script&lt;br /&gt;
| nation           = *[[Languages of Nepal|Nepal]]&lt;br /&gt;
** [[Koshi Province]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Official languages of India|India]]&lt;br /&gt;
** [[Sikkim]]&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;sikkimofficial&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=The Sikkim Official Languages Act |url=https://www.sikkim.gov.in/uploads/Gazette/1977_THE_SIKKIM_OFFICIAL_LANGUAGES_ACT_20221029.pdf |website=sikkim.gov.in |publisher=Government of Sikkim |access-date=27 June 2025}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| map              = Limbu script.png&lt;br /&gt;
| mapcaption       = [[Limbu script]]. Grey letters are obsolete.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Contains special characters|Uncommon Unicode}}&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Limbu&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Limbu: {{Lang|lif|ᤕᤠᤰᤌᤢᤱ ᤐᤠᤴ}}, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;yakthuṅ pan&amp;#039;&amp;#039;) is a [[Sino-Tibetan languages|Sino-Tibetan language]] spoken by the [[Limbu people]] of [[Nepal]] and Northeastern [[India]] (particularly [[West Bengal]], [[Sikkim]], [[Assam]] and [[Nagaland]]) as well as expatriate communities in [[Bhutan]]. The Limbu refer to themselves as &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Yakthung&amp;#039;&amp;#039; and their language as &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Yakthungpan.&amp;#039;&amp;#039; Yakthungpan has four main dialects: Phedape, Chhathare, Tambarkhole and Panthare dialects.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ReferenceA&amp;quot;&amp;gt;A Grammar of Limbu By George van Driem 1987&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Among four dialects, the Phedape dialect is widely spoken and well understood by most Yakthungpan speakers. However, as there are some dominant Panthare scholars who have role to create knowledge and control knowledge in the Limbu communities, Panthare dialect is being popularised as a &amp;quot;standard&amp;quot; Limbu language. As Panthare Yakthungs are much more engaged in central political position and administrative positions, they are trying to introduce Panthare dialect as a Standard Yakthungpan.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Yakthungpan (Limbu language) is one of the major languages spoken and written in Nepal, Darjeeling, [[Kalimpong]], Sikkim, and Bhutan. Linguists have reached the conclusion that Yakthungpan resembles [[Tibetic languages|Tibetan]] and [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Before the introduction of the Sirijanga script among Limbu, the [[Róng script]] was popular in east Nepal, especially in the early Maurong state. The Sirijanga script had almost disappeared for 800 years and it was brought back into use by  [[Limbu people|Limbu]] scholar [[Te-ongsi Sirijunga Xin Thebe]] of Tellok Sinam [[Limbuwan]] present day [[Nepal]]. The Limbu script is called &amp;#039;Sirijanga&amp;#039; after the Limbu culture- hero [[Te-ongsi Sirijunga Xin Thebe]], who is credited with its invention.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;The Unicode Standard 5.0, Front Cover By Unicode Consortium, Addison-Wesley, 2007- Computers 1417 pages, Page 360&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Geographical distribution==&lt;br /&gt;
Limbu is spoken east of the [[Arun River, China-Nepal|Arun River]] in the following [[districts of Nepal]] (&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Ethnologue]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039;).&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Koshi Province]]&lt;br /&gt;
**[[Dhankuta District]]&lt;br /&gt;
**[[Ilam District]]&lt;br /&gt;
**[[Jhapa District]]&lt;br /&gt;
**[[Morang District]]&lt;br /&gt;
**[[Panchthar District]]&lt;br /&gt;
**[[Sankhuwasabha District]]&lt;br /&gt;
**[[Sunsari District]]&lt;br /&gt;
**[[Taplejung District]]&lt;br /&gt;
**[[Terhathum District]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Official status==&lt;br /&gt;
===Nepal===&lt;br /&gt;
The [[Language Commission (Nepal)|Language Commission of Nepal]] has recommended the Limbu language as official language in [[Koshi Province.]]&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;langcomreport&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=सरकारी कामकाजको भाषाका आधारहरूको निर्धारण तथा भाषासम्बन्धी सिफारिसहरू (पञ्चवर्षीय प्रतिवेदन- साराांश) २०७८ |url=https://languagecommission.gov.np/files/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B8%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE.pdf |website=Language Commission |access-date=28 October 2021 |archive-date=6 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210906171816/https://languagecommission.gov.np/files/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B8%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%A3%20%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%20%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%20%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE.pdf |url-status=dead }}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; [[Chulachuli Rural Municipality]],&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;chulachuli&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=Limbu official language in Chulachuli rural municipality |url=https://english.khabarhub.com/2021/28/212050/ |access-date=29 October 2021 |agency=Khabarhub |date=28 Sep 2018}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; [[Mangsebung Rural Municipality]]&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;mangsebung&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |last1=Chapagain |first1=Bhim |title=Limbu language declared official language |url=https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/limbu-language-declared-official-language/ |access-date=29 October 2021 |agency=My Republica |publisher=My Republica |date=1 Dec 2018}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; and [[Phalgunanda Rural Municipality]]&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;phalgunanda&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite news |title=फाल्गुनन्द गाउँपालिकाको सरकारी कामकाजको भाषा याक्थुङ लिम्बु हुने |url=https://silautitimes.com/2021/06/25/8794/ |access-date=30 October 2021 |agency=Silauti Times |publisher=Silauti Times |date=25 June 2021}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; have recognized the Limbu language as an official working language.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
===India===&lt;br /&gt;
In India, the state of [[Sikkim]] has recognized the Limbu language as an additional official language for the purpose of preservation of culture and tradition in the state.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;sikkimgov&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=About Sikkim |url=https://www.sikkimtourism.gov.in/Public/ExperienceSikkim/history |website=Sikkim Tourism |access-date=1 November 2021}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The official weekly publication &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Sikkim Herald&amp;#039;&amp;#039; has a Limbu Edition.&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;sikkimherald&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |title=ᤜᤣᤖᤠᤸᤍ |url=https://sikkim.gov.in/uploads/SikkimHerald/Limboo_29Oct_0_20211029.pdf |website=Government of Sikkim |access-date=4 November 2021}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Dialects==&lt;br /&gt;
The Limbu languages are divided into four dialects :&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;ReferenceA&amp;quot;/&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
*Phedappe&lt;br /&gt;
*Panthare&lt;br /&gt;
*Chathare&lt;br /&gt;
*Taplejunge or Tamarkhole&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&amp;#039;&amp;#039;[[Ethnologue]]&amp;#039;&amp;#039; lists the following dialects of Limbu.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
*Dialect cluster 1&lt;br /&gt;
**Panthare&lt;br /&gt;
**Chaubise &lt;br /&gt;
**Charkhole&lt;br /&gt;
**Yanggrokke (Yanggruppe)&lt;br /&gt;
*Dialect cluster 2&lt;br /&gt;
**Phedappe&lt;br /&gt;
**Tamorkhole (Taplejunge)&lt;br /&gt;
*Dialect cluster 3&lt;br /&gt;
**Chhatthare (Chatthare, Chhathar)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Yanggrokke, Chaubise, and Charkhole are minor variants of the Panthare dialect. Phedappe and Tamorkhole are similar. Chattare is less well understood by other dialect speakers. The Limbu dialect spoken in [[Sikkim]], India is the same as Panthare.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Phonology==&lt;br /&gt;
===Vowels and consonants===&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;text-align: center;&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+ Vowel phonemes&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{Cite book|last=Driem, George van, 1957-|title=A grammar of Limbu|date=1987|publisher=Mouton de Gruyter|isbn=0-89925-345-8|location=Berlin|oclc=16352958}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
! rowspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; |&lt;br /&gt;
! colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; |[[Front vowel|Front]]&lt;br /&gt;
! colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | [[Central vowel|Central]]&lt;br /&gt;
! colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | [[Back vowel|Back]]&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! &amp;lt;small&amp;gt;short&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt; || &amp;lt;small&amp;gt;long&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
! &amp;lt;small&amp;gt;short&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt; || &amp;lt;small&amp;gt;long&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
! &amp;lt;small&amp;gt;short&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt; || &amp;lt;small&amp;gt;long&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! [[Close vowel|Close]]&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|i}}&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|iː}}&lt;br /&gt;
| colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; |&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|u}}&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|uː}}&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! [[Close-mid vowel|Close-mid]]&lt;br /&gt;
| colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; |{{IPA link|eˑ}}&lt;br /&gt;
| colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; |&lt;br /&gt;
| colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; |{{IPA link|oˑ}}&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
![[Mid vowel|Mid]]&lt;br /&gt;
| colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; |&lt;br /&gt;
| colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; |{{IPA link|ə}}&lt;br /&gt;
| colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; |&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! [[Open-mid vowel|Open-mid]]&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|ɛ}}&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|ɛː}}&lt;br /&gt;
| colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; |&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|ʌ}}&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|ʌː}}&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
![[Open vowel|Open]]&lt;br /&gt;
| colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; |&lt;br /&gt;
|{{IPA link|a}}&lt;br /&gt;
|{{IPA link|aː}}&lt;br /&gt;
| colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; |&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
/{{IPA link|ʌ}}, {{IPA link|ʌː}}/ can be heard as rounded [{{IPA link|ɔ}}, {{IPA link|ɔː}}] after labial consonants.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot; style=&amp;quot;text-align: center;&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+ Consonant phonemes&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;:0&amp;quot; /&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; |&lt;br /&gt;
! [[Labial consonant|Labial]]&lt;br /&gt;
! [[Dental consonant|Dental]]&lt;br /&gt;
! [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]&lt;br /&gt;
! [[Retroflex consonant|Retroflex]]&lt;br /&gt;
! [[Postalveolar consonant|Post-alv.]]/&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;[[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]&lt;br /&gt;
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]&lt;br /&gt;
! [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | [[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|m}}&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|n}}&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
| ({{IPA link|ɳ}})&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|ŋ}}&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! rowspan=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot; | [[Plosive]]/&amp;lt;br/&amp;gt;[[Affricate consonant|Affricate]]&lt;br /&gt;
! &amp;lt;small&amp;gt;[[voicelessness|voiceless]]&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|p}}&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|t̪|t}}&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
| ({{IPA link|ʈ}})&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|t͡ɕ}}&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|k}}&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|ʔ}}&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! &amp;lt;small&amp;gt;[[voicelessness|voiceless]] [[aspirated consonant|aspirated]]&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|pʰ}}&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|tʰ}}&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
| ({{IPA link|ʈʰ}})&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|kʰ}}&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! &amp;lt;small&amp;gt;[[voice (phonetics)|voiced]]&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|b}}&lt;br /&gt;
| ({{IPA link|d|d̪}})&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
| ({{IPA link|ɖ}})&lt;br /&gt;
| ({{IPA link|d͡ʑ}})&lt;br /&gt;
| ({{IPA link|ɡ}})&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! &amp;lt;small&amp;gt;[[voice (phonetics)|voiced]] [[aspirated consonant|aspirated]]&amp;lt;/small&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
| ({{IPA link|bʱ}})&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
| ({{IPA link|ɖʱ}})&lt;br /&gt;
| ({{IPA link|d͡ʑʱ}})&lt;br /&gt;
| ({{IPA link|ɡʱ}})&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | [[Rhotic consonant|Rhotic]]&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|r}}&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | [[Fricative]]&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|s}}&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|ɦ}}&lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
! colspan=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot; | [[Approximant]]&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|w}}&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|l}}&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
| {{IPA link|j}}&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|&lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Phonemes in parentheses occur in loan words from Nepali.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Grammar==&lt;br /&gt;
Limbu is a postpositional language. Noun arguments take case markers as well as postpositions. Double case markings happen frequently. The following word endings mark for cases in Limbu.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
* [[absolutive case|absolutive]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-ʔin&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Ergative case|ergative]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-le/-re/-lle/-ʔille&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
* [[instrumental case|instrumental]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-le/-ʔille&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
* [[genitive case|genitive]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-re/-le/-ille&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
* absolutivized genitive &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-re-n/-le-n&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
* [[vocative case|vocative]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-e&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
** non-singular vocative &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-se&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
** rare vocative &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-re&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
* [[locative case|locative]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-ʔo&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
* [[comitative case|comitative]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-nu&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
* [[Prolative case|mediative]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-lam&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
* [[elative case|elative]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-ʔo-lam/-ʔo-nu&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
* [[allative case|allative]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-thak&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
* [[intrative case|intrative]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-lum-ʔo&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&lt;br /&gt;
* [[comparative case|comparative]] &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-nulle&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (combined form of comitative -nu and genitive -lle)&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Limbu is an [[ergative-absolutive language]], with the agentive argument of a [[transitive verb]] will take ergative &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-le/-re/-lle/-ʔille&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, and the subject of a intransitive verb and the patient of a transitive verb will be marked by &amp;#039;&amp;#039;-ʔin&amp;#039;&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Limbu verbs, which are [[polysynthetic]] in nature, exhibit double negators and agreements with objects, but lack third person subject agreements and noun [[Incorporation (linguistics)|incorporation]]. A typical Limbu verbal morphology can be described in following table:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{| class=&amp;quot;wikitable&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;
|+ Limbu verb template&lt;br /&gt;
! +3 || +2 || +1 || core || -1 || -2 || -3 || -4 || -5 || -6 || -7 || -8 || -9 || -10 &lt;br /&gt;
|-&lt;br /&gt;
| (&amp;#039;&amp;#039;kɛ-&amp;#039;&amp;#039;) 2/(&amp;#039;&amp;#039;mɛ-&amp;#039;&amp;#039;) 3/(&amp;#039;&amp;#039;a-&amp;#039;&amp;#039;) INCL || A/SBJ || (&amp;#039;&amp;#039;n-&amp;#039;&amp;#039; &amp;amp; &amp;#039;&amp;#039;mɛ-&amp;#039;&amp;#039;) NEG/&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Ø&amp;#039;&amp;#039; AFF || verb stem || RR/1&amp;gt;2 || TNS || A/P (DU, PL, 3PL, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Ø&amp;#039;&amp;#039; SG) ## || A ## || NEG || SBJ ## || P ## || A ## || 1EXCL/1INCL || (&amp;#039;&amp;#039;-n/-nɛn&amp;#039;&amp;#039;) NEG &lt;br /&gt;
|}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Sirijanga script==&lt;br /&gt;
[[File:Limbu script.png|thumb|right|275px|The [[Limbu script]]. Grey letters are obsolete.]] &lt;br /&gt;
Limbu language is one of the few [[Sino-Tibetan languages]] of the central [[Himalayas]] with their own scripts.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;(Sprigg 1959: 590)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The [[Limbu script]] or Sirijanga script was devised during the period of Buddhist expansion in [[Sikkim]] in the early 18th century when [[Limbuwan]] still constituted part of Sikkimese territory.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;(Sprigg 1959: 591-592 &amp;amp; MS: 1-4)&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt; The Limbu script was probably designed roughly at the same time as the [[Lepcha script]] (during the reign of the third King of Sikkim, Phyag-dor Nam-gyal (c. 1700–1717)). However, it is widely believed that the Limbu script (Sirijanga) had been designed by the Limbu King Sirijanga Hang in the 9th century. The Sirijanga script was later redesigned and re-introduced by [[Te-ongsi Sirijunga Xin Thebe]] . As Te-ongsi Sirijunga Xin Thebe spent most of his time in the development of Yakthungpan, Yatkhung culture, and Limbu script; he is considered as the reincarnation of the 9th century King Sirijanga.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
As Te-ongsi Sirijunga Xin Thebe was astoundingly influential in spreading the Limbu script, culture, and language, Tasang monks came to fear that he might transform the social, cultural, and linguistic structure of Sikkim. Therefore, Tasang monks captured Sirijunga, bound him to a tree, and shot him to death with poisonous arrows.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Both Limbu and [[Lepcha language|Lepcha]] scripts were ostensibly devised with the intent of furthering the spread of [[Buddhism]]. However, Sirijanga was a Limbu Buddhist who had studied under Sikkimese high Lamas. Sirijanga was given the title &amp;#039;the [[Dorje]] [[Lama]] of Yangrup&amp;#039;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The script has been influenced by [[Tibetan script|Tibetan]] and [[Devanagari]]. Unlike most other Brahmic scripts, it does not have separate independent [[vowel]] characters, instead using [[abugida|a vowel carrier letter with the appropriate dependent vowel attached]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The Limbu language and literature have been less practiced in Nepal since the last eighteenth century. The cultural identity of any community was taken as a threat to the national unification by ruling elites until the recent years. The use of the [[Limbu alphabet]] was banned and the possession of Limbu writings outlawed. There were no specific laws about it, but the Security Act was enforced for such cases under the strong directives of Kathmandu.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Writing==&lt;br /&gt;
{{main|Limbu script}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
Limbu has its own unique writing system, which is similar to Tibetan and Sikkimese scripts. The [[Limbu script]] or Sirijunga script is unique and scientifically designed by King Sirijanga in the 9th century; it was later re-designed and popularized by [[Te-ongsi Sirijunga Xin Thebe]] and his followers in the 18th century. Since teaching of Limbu/Yakthung language and writing was banned by the Khas-Hindus in Nepal after the &amp;quot;Noon Pani Sandhi&amp;quot; between the [[Limbuwan]] and [[Gorkha Kingdom]] (Prithvi Narayan Shah), far more Limbus are [[literacy|literate]] in [[Nepali language|Nepali]] than in Limbu in Nepal. Although many Limbu books were written in Devanagari and Roman (English), now Limbus/Yakthungs have well-developed computerized writing system and many books are published in Limbu script or Sirijunga script.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
The historical development of Kirat-Yakthung writing can be organized into the following periods:&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
# Classical Kirat-Yakthung period: King Sirijanga (9th century AD)&lt;br /&gt;
# The 18th-century Kirat-Yakthunghang period: [[Te-ongsi Sirijunga Xin Thebe]] and his cronies movement&lt;br /&gt;
# The 19th-century Kirat-Yakthung writers and rhetors: Period of Jobhansing Limbu, Chyangresing Phedangba, Ranadwaj, and Jit Mohan (Brian Hudgson procured books and requested them to write histories, stories, narratives, culture, and so on)&lt;br /&gt;
# The 20th-century Kirat-Yakthung writers and rhetors: &lt;br /&gt;
## After the establishment of &amp;quot;Yakthunghang Chumlung&amp;quot; (1925); thereafter, several books were published. &lt;br /&gt;
## Limbu script was much more influenced by Devnagari script at this period. &lt;br /&gt;
## At the same time, both national and international linguists, researchers, and writers addressed the issued in this period. This period is period of inquiry, communication, discovery, and re/construction.&lt;br /&gt;
# Late 20th- and 21st-century Kirat-Yakthung writers and rhetors: This period denotes after the restoration of democracy in Nepal in 1990. Introduction of &amp;quot;Anipan&amp;quot; at school; many research and writing such as MA/MPhil theses and research reports; establishment of Limbu organization at the local and global level; period of delinking, relinking, and linking epistemologies.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Publications==&lt;br /&gt;
The Limbu language has many papers and publications in circulation.&lt;br /&gt;
For instance, &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Tanchoppa&amp;#039;&amp;#039; (Morning Star) is a monthly newspaper/magazine which has been published since 1995. There are many other literary publications.&lt;br /&gt;
The oldest known Limbu writings were collected from the Darjeeling district in the 1850s. They are the ancestors of the modern Limbu script. The writings are now a part of a collection in the India Library in London.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Teaching==&lt;br /&gt;
In [[Nepal]], the Limbu language is taught on private initiative. The Government of Nepal has published &amp;quot;Ani Paan&amp;quot; text books in Limbu for primary education from grades 1 to 12. Kirant Yakthung Chumlung teaches Limbu language and script on its own initiative.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
In [[Sikkim]], since the late 1970s, Limbu in the Limbu script has been offered in English-medium schools as a vernacular language subject in areas populated by Limbus. Over 4000 students study Limbu for one hour daily taught by some 300 teachers. Course books are available in Limbu from grades 1 to 12. Additionally, the significance of Limbu in Sikkim is that the name of the [[States and union territories of India|Indian state]] itself is a combination of two Limbu words: &amp;#039;&amp;#039;su&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, which means &amp;quot;new&amp;quot;, and &amp;#039;&amp;#039;khyim&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, which means &amp;quot;palace&amp;quot; or &amp;quot;house&amp;quot;.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;Ethnic Groups of South Asia and the Pacific: An Encyclopedia By James Minahan, 2012&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Sample text==&lt;br /&gt;
The following text is Article 1 of the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]].&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== English ===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Block indent|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;Article 1:&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039; 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.&amp;lt;ref&amp;gt;https://www.ohchr.org/en/human-rights/universal-declaration/translations/english&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
=== Limbu (Limbu Script) ===&lt;br /&gt;
{{Block indent|{{Lang|lif|{{Script|Limb|&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;ᤁᤢᤎᤠ ᥇&amp;#039;&amp;#039;&amp;#039;: ᤁᤧᤖᤧᤰ ᤕᤠᤵᤔᤡᤜᤠ᤹ ᤀᤡᤱᤎᤠᤱ ᤏᤢ ᤕᤢᤰᤖᤧ ᤏᤠ᤺ᤶᤓᤣᤀᤠᤣ ᤛᤠᤘᤠ᤺ᤴᤏᤠᤣᤏᤢᤀᤣ ᤆᤠᤣ᤺ᤰᤕᤢᤶᤓᤠᤣᤒᤠ ᤏᤢ ᤐᤧᤶᤒᤧᤶᤒᤠ ᤔᤧᤘᤠ᤹ ॥ ᤂᤢᤏᤡ᤹ ᤏᤡᤛᤡ᤺ᤰᤐᤠ ᤏᤢ ᤂᤧᤛᤡᤱ ᤔᤧᤍᤠᤖᤢᤀᤠᤱ ᤔᤧᤍᤩᤧᤀᤠᤱ ᤔᤧᤘᤠ᤹ ᤜᤧᤰᤁᤩᤠᤱ ᤌᤡᤰᤘᤣ᤹ᤀᤠᤣ ᤑᤢ᤹ᤏᤢᤛᤠ᤹ ᤀᤡᤛᤡᤰ ᤀᤠᤣᤃᤠᤵ ᤆᤠᤣ᤺ᤰᤔᤠᤛᤡ  ᤐᤠᤣ᤺ᤱ ॥}}}}&amp;lt;ref name=&amp;quot;UDHR_Limbu&amp;quot;&amp;gt;{{cite web |url=https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/UDHR/Documents/UDHR_Translations/lif.pdf |title=Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Limbu translation |trans-title=ᤔᤧᤴᤇᤠᤶ ᤕᤢᤰᤖᤧᤴ ᤁᤒᤢ ᤀᤡᤰᤛᤠ ᤀᤡᤱᤓᤥ᤺ᤴᤛᤰ |website=OHCHR.org |publisher=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights |format=PDF |language=lif |page=1|access-date=15 January 2026}}&amp;lt;/ref&amp;gt;}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==See also==&lt;br /&gt;
*[[History of Limbuwan]]&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Languages of Nepal]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==References==&lt;br /&gt;
{{reflist}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==Further reading==&lt;br /&gt;
* Driem, George van (1987). &amp;#039;&amp;#039;A grammar of Limbu&amp;#039;&amp;#039;. (Mouton grammar library; 4). Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. {{ISBN|3-11-011282-5}}&lt;br /&gt;
* Limbu, Marohang (2017). {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20170728075959/http://joglep.com/files/3914/9082/6377/0.3_Marohang_Limbu_Final.pdf Politics in Rhetoric and Writing in Paracolonial Context: A Glimpse of Limbu Language, Writing, and Literacy in Yakthung Laje.]}} &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Journal of Global Literacies, Technologies, and Emerging Pedagogies&amp;#039;&amp;#039;, 4(1), 550-591.&lt;br /&gt;
* Limbu, Marohang (2016). Politics of Rhetoric and Writing in the Non-Western World: Delinking, Relinking, and Linking Yakthung Epistemologies. &amp;#039;&amp;#039;Mikphulla Laje Inghang&amp;#039;&amp;#039;,10(10) 36-41.&lt;br /&gt;
* Perumalsamy, P. (2009)  &amp;quot;Limbu Language&amp;quot; in Linguistic Survey of India: Sikkim volume I, New Delhi: Office of Registrar General India,  pp: 204–279. https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/34829&lt;br /&gt;
* {{cite book |author=Tumbahang, Govinda Bahadur |date=2007 |title=A Descriptive Grammar Of Chhatthare Limbu |publisher=Central Department of English Kirtipur |location=Kathmandu |hdl=123456789/3017 |url=https://elibrary.tucl.edu.np/handle/123456789/3017}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
==External links==&lt;br /&gt;
{{Incubator|code= lif}}&lt;br /&gt;
*[http://www.omniglot.com/writing/limbu.htm Omniglot modern Limbu writing system]&lt;br /&gt;
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160531014159/http://lacito.vjf.cnrs.fr/pangloss/dico/ Limbu-English Dictionary of the Mewa Khola dialect] ([http://lacito.vjf.cnrs.fr/documents/publi/L22Ib.pdf PDF introduction] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827024415/http://lacito.vjf.cnrs.fr/documents/publi/L22Ib.pdf |date=2018-08-27 }})&lt;br /&gt;
*[[Kaipuleohone]]&amp;#039;s [[Language Documentation Training Center|LDTC]] collection [[hdl:10125/36148|includes open access recordings in Limbu]]&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
{{Kiranti languages}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Languages of Northeast India}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Languages of Bhutan}}&lt;br /&gt;
{{Languages of Nepal}}&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Languages of Nepal]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Languages of Bhutan]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Kiranti languages]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Languages of Sikkim]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Official languages of Nepal]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Limbu culture]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Languages of Koshi Province]]&lt;br /&gt;
[[Category:Languages written in Devanagari]]&lt;/div&gt;</summary>
		<author><name>PamKirsch2959552</name></author>
	</entry>
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