334,000 in Nepal (2001 census), increasing. Relatively few
monolinguals. Population total all countries: 371,300. Eastern
hills, east of Arun river; Koshi Zone, Dhankuta, Sankhuwasabha,
Terhathum, Dhankuta, and Morang districts; Mechi Zone,
Taplejung, Panchthar, Ilam, and Jhapa districts. Also in Bhutan,
India. 5 (Developing). Language of recognized nationality (2002,
NFDIN Act, No. 20, Section 2C). Chaubise (Charkhole), Chhatthare
(Chatthare, Chhathar), Panthare, Phedappe, Tamorkhole
(Taplejunge), Yanggrokke (Yanggruppe). Related to Lohorung [lbr]
and Yakkha [ybh]. 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 dialect spoken in Sikkim, India, is same as
Panthare. Intelligibility among all varieties 84% and higher.
SOV; postpositions; genitives, articles, adjectives, numerals
before noun heads; noun head final; content question word in
situ; bipolar question word final; maximum