Vayu language
Sino-Tibetan language
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vayu (वायु), also known as Wayu or Hayu (हायु) is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken in Nepal by about 1,520 people in Bagmati Province. Dialects include Pali Gau (पालि गाउ), Mudajor, Sukajor, Ramechhap, Sindhuli, and Marin Khola.
-
Tibeto-Burman
- Mahakiranti (?)
- Kiranti
- Western
- Northwestern
- Vayu
- Northwestern
- Western
- Kiranti
- Mahakiranti (?)
| Vayu | |
|---|---|
| Hayu | |
| वायु, हायु | |
| Native to | Nepal |
| Region | Janakpur Zone |
Native speakers | 1,500 (2011 census)[1] |
Sino-Tibetan
| |
| Devanagari | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | vay |
| Glottolog | wayu1241 |
| ELP | Wayu |
The Vayu language features SOV ordering. There are strong Nepali influences in its phonology, lexicon, and grammar. Its uses the Devanagari script as its writing system. There are no known monolingual speakers of the language, as its speaking population also uses Nepali.[1] Despite a lack of monolingual children, use of Vayu has survived into the 21st century [2]
Phonology
Grammar
a-mʊ
3S-GEN
kɔ
TOP
lɔm-nɔŋ
road-on
kɔ
TOP
nakpu
two:HUM
xʷaptsɔ
spouse
dum –
become:23S
kɛm-hɛ
house-in
kɔlu
one
xʷaptsɔ
spouse
nɔ […]
be:23S
dzəmmə
all
kɔ
TOP
tsʰukpu
three:HUM
dŭmɛ
become:3P
‘Now he had two wives on the road – he had one at home – altogether they were three.’
Geographical distribution
Hayu is spoken in the following locations of Nepal.[1]
- Ramechhap District, Bagmati Province: Mudajor and Sukajor villages
- Sindhuli District: Manedihi village
Hayu is spoken in the Sunkoshi valley, southwards across the Mahabharat range. Ethnic Hayu live on the hills on both sides of the Sun Kosi River but the language is only spoken in the villages listed.
