Puma language

Puma (Puma: पुमा Pumā) is a Kiranti language spoken by about 4,310 people (Central Bureau of Statistics report 2001) in Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal. The actual population may be somewhat higher. The same term ‘Puma’ refers both to the people and the language they speak [Sharma 2014].

For the Puma language of the Solomon Is, see Teanu language.
Puma
पुमा
Pronunciation[ˈpumaː]
RegionKhotang district and Udayapur district, Nepal
Native speakers
6,700 (2011 census)[1]
Sino-Tibetan
Language codes
ISO 639-3pum
Glottologpuma1239
ELPPuma[2]

The Himalayan Languages Project has produced the first grammatical sketch of Puma. Like other Kiranti languages, Puma has a maximum syllable form of (C) (G) V (C) (C) for open syllables and (N) C V C for closed syllables, where ‘G’ is a glide and ‘N’ is a nasal (Sharma 2014:92].

Locations

Puma is spoken in Diplung, Mauwabote, Devisthan, Pauwasera, and Chisapani VDC's of southern Khotang District, and in Beltar and Saunechour VDC's of Udayapur District, Nepal. It is also spoken in Ruwa Khola valley to Buwa Khola, and southward across the Dudh Koshi.

References
  1. Puma at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
  2. Endangered Languages Project data for Puma.
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