Nubri: Identity as a key to vitality

Abstract

Two ethnically Tibetan communities in the high Himalayas are studied: one in northern central Nepal, the other in northern central Bhutan. They have evolved alongside Tibetan, the liturgical language of the communities, but I examine how different conditions have impacted contemporary linguistic practices. In Nubri, Nepal, the identity of Tibetan is strong, especially in a Nepalese context, due to its remote geography, unique history and continued cultural practices, such as trade across the border with Tibetans across the border during a two-week window each summer. However, younger Nubris are gravitating towards Kathmandu, either for schooling or simply due to the lure of urbanity and modernity and the promise of socio-economic improvement as well as the chance to participate in more pop cultural offerings that they are exposed to online. This is clearly impacting Nubri language. In Bumthang, Bhutan, the situation is a little different. There are a multitude of varieties but the villages are not as remote and are much more similar to Dzongkha, the Tibetic variety that is the national variety. Some implications of the situation in Nubri and Bumthang are discussed.