Khaling language

Khaling (kʰɛ̂l brâː ख्या:ल् ब्रा:) is a Kiranti language spoken in Solukhumbu district, Nepal and Sikkim, Darjeeling, and Kalimpong in India. It is one of the few Kiranti languages with tonal contrasts, which are of secondary origin.

Khaling has approximately 15,000 speakers and is therefore considered a vulnerable language. Khaling has a complex system of stem alternations: as many as 10 distinct stems have to be posited for a word (Jacques et al. 2012). Khaling is very unusual in having an auditory demonstrative (see Jacques and Lahaussois 2014). Khaling is also known as Rai, Khalinge Rai, Khael Bra, and Khael Baat.

General information
Khaling is still being acquired by children who live in Khaling-speaking areas, as well as non-Khaling children who happen to live in that area.

Geographical distribution
Khaling is spoken in the following VDC's of Nepal (Ethnologue).


 * Solukhumbu District, Province No. 1: Kanku, Basa, Waku, Buksa, Jubing, Pawai and Phuleli villages
 * Khotang District, Province No. 1: Buipa Fuleli and Kharmi villages
 * Udayapur District, Province No. 1: Triyuga Municipality Gaighat, Basaha, Belter, Rampur city.
 * Sankhuwasabha District, Province No. 1: Tungkhaling village
 * Sunsari District, Province No. 1: Dharan
 * Ilam District, Province No. 1: Pang, Sumbek, and Mai Pokhari villages

Vowels

 * Khaling language has rising-falling is denoted by using / ः/ while using Devanagari script.
 * /ʌ/ and /oɔ/ doesn't have long vowel sound.
 * Long vowel is denote by using /ऽ/.

Consonants

 * Glotta stop is one of the consonants of Koyu/Koyee(Koi) language which is represent by using $⟨इ⟩$.
 * To write Khaling language Devanagari lipi or Kirat Sirijungga lipi is used.