Central Tibet: Everyday Phrases in Endangered Languages

Central Tibet is home to several endangered languages spoken by minority communities. These languages are under threat due to the dominance of Standard Tibetan and Mandarin. By learning and using key phrases, we help keep these languages alive and support cultural preservation.

Below are six common phrases in endangered languages from Central Tibet. Each sentence includes the original language, pronunciation, and English meaning to help with understanding and pronunciation.

1. Ü-Tsang Tibetan (Ü-Kham) (Dialects of Central Tibet, becoming less common in younger generations)

• Hello, good morning → “Tashi delek!” (taɕi tɛlɛk)
• I am hungry → “Nga mogpo yin.” (ŋa mɔkpo jin)
• Have a good night → “Sang nyin ga!” (saŋ ɲin ga)
• Where are you from? → “Khyed rang ga re yod?” (kʰjeʔ raŋ ga re jod)
• Thank you very much → “Thuk-je-che!” (tʰuk dʑe tʃʰe)
• How are you? → “Khyed rang kuzhu yong?” (kʰjeʔ raŋ kuʑu joŋ)

2. Lhopa (Lhoba, Luoba) (Highly endangered, spoken by ethnic groups near the Arunachal Pradesh border)

• Hello, good morning → “Ma le!” (ma lɛ)
• I am hungry → “Nga khebo.” (ŋa kʰɛbo)
• Have a good night → “No ya sha!” (no ja ʃa)
• Where are you from? → “Khe yong do?” (kʰe joŋ do)
• Thank you very much → “Tamo che!” (ta.mo tʃʰe)
• How are you? → “Shari kye?” (ʃari kje)

3. Gongduk (Critically endangered, only spoken by a few hundred people near Bhutan)

• Hello, good morning → “Cho nyo!” (tʃo ɲo)
• I am hungry → “Nga do kyu.” (ŋa do kju)
• Have a good night → “Sang no lo!” (saŋ no lo)
• Where are you from? → “Ne la?” (ne la)
• Thank you very much → “Druk che!” (druk tʃʰe)
• How are you? → “Nye sho?” (ɲe ʃo)

Conclusion

Central Tibet: Everyday Phrases in Endangered Languages

Languages in Central Tibet are at risk as younger generations shift toward dominant languages like Standard Tibetan and Mandarin. These endangered languages hold deep cultural and historical value. Each phrase spoken is a step toward preserving Tibet’s linguistic heritage.

By using these phrases, we help keep these languages in daily life. Linguistic diversity is part of Tibet’s rich identity, and every word we learn strengthens its survival. Let’s continue to explore and support these languages.