Puma language

For the language spoken in the Solomon Islands, see Teanu language.

Puma (Puma: पुमा Pumā) is a Kiranti language spoken by about 4,310 people (Central Bureau of Statistics report 2001) in Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal. The actual population may be somewhat higher. The same term ‘Puma’ refers both to the people and the language they speak [Sharma 2014].

Puma
पुमा
Pronunciation	[ˈpumaː]
Region	Khotang district and Udayapur district, Nepal
Native speakers	6,700 (2011 census)[1]
Language family	Sino-Tibetan Tibeto-Burman Mahakiranti (?) Kiranti Central Kiranti Southern Puma
Language codes
ISO 639-3	pum
Glottolog	puma1239
ELP	Puma

The Himalayan Languages Project has produced the first grammatical sketch of Puma. Like other Kiranti languages, Puma has a maximum syllable form of (C) (G) V (C) (C) for open syllables and (N) C V C for closed syllables, where ‘G’ is a glide and ‘N’ is a nasal (Sharma 2014:92].

Locations

Puma is spoken in Diplung, Mauwabote, Devisthan, Pauwasera, and Chisapani VDC's of southern Khotang District, and in Beltar and Saunechour VDC's of Udayapur District, Nepal. It is also spoken in Ruwa Khola valley to Buwa Khola, and southward across the Dudh Koshi.

Education

Puma language is taught in 14 schools of Barahapokhari and Jantedhunga Rural Municipalities of Khotang district in Nepal since 2020.^[2]