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themselves about the merits of the term St. Petersburg over Leningrad. Naming Names The important issues in the Thangmi context rather relate to orthodoxy and supremacy, and the etymology of the term described above Tharni embodies the Hindu Aryan Nepali speaker’s belief that In his study entitled “Placename Persistence in Washington State,” Grant Smith notes prior to the wayside encounter between this unidentified tribal man and the Brahman, the that “placenames generally tell us far more about the people doing the naming than about the ethnic group had no name, no livelihood other than as ‘beasts of burden’ and consequently features named” (1993: 62). I believe that the same may be said for the names of peoples, or no real place in the caste system. This latter absence is particularly important in a country such as edmonyms, and that choices governing the use of one ethnonym over another, and the respective Nepal, where ethnic and caste groups are largely stratified according to occupation, with manual etymologies that users invoke, often reveal more about the ethno-nanzer than the ethno-narnee. labourers who manipulate natural products positioned at the lower end of the caste scale. Thus, The Thangmi are a case in point, and the following discussion acts out, albeit at a microscopic in the Hindu exegesis of the term Tharni, folk etymology is conscripted to place the ethnic group at level, macroscopic issues which reflect growing ethnolinguistic tensions in modem Nepal. the bottom of the caste hierarchy, a little higher perhaps than cobblers, tailors and blacksmiths, but not much. The three existing ethnonyms for this ethnic group are Tharni, Thangrni and Thani. The first term, Tharni, is the ‘Nepali’ desiEnation for the group, and is properly transliterated as The second objection to the Nepalified term Tharni is one of sequence or order. There is thâmi following the established rules of Indological transcription. My use of ‘Nepali’ is every reason to believe, in fact, that the indigenous term Thangrniprecedes its Nepali equivalent, deliberately ambiguous: it is both the name of the national language of Nepal and a descriptive Thami. For an ethnic group speaking a Tibeto-Burman language, a Tibeto-Burman origin adjective derived from the name of the country. In this instance I use the adjective to convey the for their ethnonym of choice seems more realistic. It is probable that the Nepali-inspired Thami sense of the cultural attitudes of the dominant Hindu elite, whose mother tongue also happens to derives from the indigenous term Thangmi, rather than the other way around. be called Nepali. It is of no surprise that members of the Hindu castes who are socially, politically and economically dominant retain more or less exclusive access to the national The second ethnonym under consideration is Thangmi, the term of choice most identity of ‘Nepaliness.’ among members of the community itself. This ethnonym is used almost exclusively by Thangmi speakers in mother tongue linguistic interactions, and is rarely Mother tongue Nepali speakers who refer to the ethnic group as Thami often invoke heard in Nepali-language discussions with individuals from other ethnic groups. Thangmi, then, is a term limited utility etymological arguments to justi their choice of ethnonym. A common, albeit highly unlikely in to intra-ethnic interaction, as opposed to inter- or extra-ethnic interactions which take place in story, is predicated on the Nepali word thãm meaning ‘pillar, column, prop, main stem’ or ‘tree Nepali and then more commonly invoke the term Thami. While rarely heard outside of the trunk.’ The story relating to the origin of the Thami name is worth relating in ff11to illustrate the community, then, Thangrni remains the indigenous ethnonym post-rationalisation inherent in this unlikely etymological proposition. Once upon a time, a of choice and the one I have adopted in all of my writings on the people and their language. My choice do with Brahnan man (a high Hindu caste) saw a semi-naked stranger approaching him carrying a heavy has less to any objective valuing of Thangmi over and above other terms than with the rejection of the tree trunk. When stopped and questioned about where he was going and what his name was, the Nepalified Thami by culturally active members of the community who challenge the stranger replied that he was hoping to barter the wood for grain, and confessed that he had no process of assimilation of Thangmi culture into the socially and politically dominant ideology name. The Brahman bought the wood for use in the construction of his house and named the of Hindu Nepal. Moreover, the etymologies for the ethnonym Thangmi are far more plausible than the man thamI(Nepali), literally ‘the one who carries the wooden pillar.’ anecdotal account of the origin of the term Thami, even though from a synchronic perspective, ‘Thangmi’ has no specific meaning in the Thangrni language, and Thangmi people are a loss This account is as ethnolinguistically unlikely as it is historically improbable, and at to explain the provenance of the term. illustrates the manner in which even the genesis tales of indigenous communities within Nepal are liable to be hijacked by the socially-dominant ideology of Hinduism. The derivation of an r As a Tibeto-Bunxian language Thangmi shares features of grammar and lexicon with ethnonym for an indigenous Tibeto-Bmman population from an Indo-Aiyan noun meaning ‘tree Tibetan. Tibetan has an elaborate written tradition, and excellent dictionaries of classical and trunk’ is specious on two finther grounds. First, the creation of a nominalised form through the I modem Tibetan are widely available. Many Thangmi words are reflexes of well-attested Proto addition of the ‘C-j>suffix to a noun or verb is a morphological process associated with Indic Tibeto-Bummanforms, and there are a number of cognates between Thangmi and other extant languages such as Nepall and Hindi and not with Tibeto-Burman ones. hi other words, the Tibeto-Burman languages. In standard contemporary Tibetan, the name Thanguil has two derivation of Thami from thãm reveals more about the morphological characteristics of the possible etymologies: thang mi, ‘people of the steppe or pasture lands’, and the more disparaging Nepali language than it does about any inherent characteristics of the ethnic group. but potentially more plausible mtha ml, ‘border people’, ‘neighbouring people’ or ‘barbarians’, a term which central inhabitants of an area might use to describe residents of the borderlands or At this point I should add that I am by no means averse to acimowledging competing which original inhabitants of an area might apply to newcomers from another land. While the ethnonyms or toponyms for a people or a place a priori. After all, German speakers are first etymology is a direct rendering of Tibetan orthography, it is best to be wary of back-to-front accepting of Mglophones who refer to their beloved Munchen as Munich, the famously tolerant analyses in which Tibetan etymologies are unearthed to fit indigenous words from unwritten Dutch do not fly into an ethnolinguistic rage when they hear their nation incorrectly being Tibeto-Burman languages. Just as the grammar of modem English will only fit within the strict referred to as Holland rather than Nederland, and Russian colleagues even joke amongst is
the
and
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name each may of
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of
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do
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a
Ethnolinguistic skills
came took
Kathmandu.
languages
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latter. the explained districts
for
Thangmi
understanding
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illusions movement
particular
groups,
of
importance,
with
they
language’ group, and
Thani.
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the
corruption While
process scholars,
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83-84).
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possible
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the as the
to rather
account
granted
by
a
more
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on
national own. Himalayan areas
newly-created
be
practitioners, the noted
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on of
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Language
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measuring
Nepalified decline
its
[of]
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Nepal
150-200 commentators, current
of of
language
two
been 413
realm.
might Thangrni depth ritual
of The
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Thani
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Thani
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south
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appreciation
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names
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and
forces. like
scenario and
census.
more
follow Buddhist
The remaining any
instrument
forward present attrition
census
Geolinguistics:
an
Thangmi
colonise county
from no labelled dates government to in
at
three surveys
would countries
put The Visibility a
exiled
to best
salient peoples in
armed or
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is
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weight. native their
the Thangmi skills
to
of Nepal
rather “the central for
they
perspective. an by not
or linguistic
of
in
hypothetical
As who,
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Thani 83).
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spoken
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here
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(1991:
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the language
composition
are
these
to
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ranges
conducting
aim
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importance Thangmi
suggests
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Thami central
for that
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of short,
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difficulties questions (ibid), subsidiary distinguished outlined census,
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ultimate
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First
in
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belief There
ethnonyms.
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were of sometimes
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that
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it
in
others
a
explanation
three
deviant to
pragmatic
etymology
Himalayish
syllable
perspective disparaging
the
consonant While
answered.
the
fact with
Thangmi
by
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Moreover,
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point
laymen,
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depends
412 the
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portrayed if, to defamatory
The now
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‘barbarians,’
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of letter too
persecution.
as
as third
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may
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squeezed
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name
a
man’s known than
so pa Tibet
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religious
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insight
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presently to
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only etymology
members
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upon
another
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need
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their second
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traditions
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mtha’
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of
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meaning and
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between
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no of foisted
or
many proposed
today,
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validity groups the
right.
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historical not was
be or
persecuted history. man that
implies hold
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present believed earlier have who
to
to
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of
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with
table
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knit
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in
is
of
the
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elapsed
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all
information
this
tightly
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to
conducted
few
common
suggests.
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districts
the
number
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figures,
journal
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in
has
past
Statistical
account
underestimate.
the
almost
the
population
census
the
above
eastern
the
are
population
by
(from
well
growth
children, to
total
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over
the
sizeable
there
of
official
the
Movement,
in
and
could
a
from
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Bhojpur
Thangmi
provided
be
Consequently,
district
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population
Total:
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Morang Sunsari
Khotang Bhojpur
Administrative
which
to
figures,
than
District clear
women
those
is
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1997),
and
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communities
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people)
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men,
Nepal figure
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This
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mention
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National
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roads
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Statistical
about
the
latter.
takers
traditions);
careffil
to
as
of
manifest
groups.
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India
publisher
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next
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one
road-head
up
communities
problem
of
Planning
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interest,
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keepers Non-Governmental
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diversity
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at
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data
and
collectors
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The
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locally-based
to
which
villages.
to
and
citizens
are
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data
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have
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different
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census
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of
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(1999:22).
data
of
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profound
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is
classes.
the
according
palpable
history,
of
different
all
of
somewhere
of
only
the
by
publication,
leadership
local
many Simi
variety
Walks
potentially
accounts
present
shamanic members
to
most
document
school
52
garden’
a
I
four
Thami
from are
quite
diverse
of
414
Hindu
which
by
cousins
ask
population
1999
Bureau
density
by
deter
great
Hinduism faced
terrain,
elite.
religion,
whose
home
local
Government
for total
page
from
population
individuals.
cases
to
host
is
‘flower
Meghrâj
rural
their
ranging
a
This
the
former
higher
statistics
accurately
Thangmi-speakers
extremely
by
documented paragraphs
Hindu
Central collected
under
(from
Nepal
Thangni
some
asked
to
physical
and
the
hailing Dolakhâreng
provided
the
the
from
Nepal
known
of
of
population
in
yet
zones
Thangmi
language, Majesty’s
data the
The
the
concerned
census,
1997
illiterate
then
ruling
tongue
Nepal
plateau.
and
and
census-taking
the
when
Nepal
of
blossoming
(predominantly
been
His
from
drawn
small
plenty
though
a
following
statistics
entitled
census
the of
of
1991
other
material
million,
a of
of
offers
their
they
as
1991.
climatic
languages
of
are
are
is
the
climate,
have
January
20
mother
Christianity,
the
and
even
Tibetan
in
modem
of
drawn
in
population
abounds
and
in
to
extremity
census
religions
official
journal
of
below
and
the there
where
complete
Nepal and
expectations
composition
figures
(38-44).
the
14,440
valleys
around
breakdown
last
the
of
Secretariat (NGO)
Nepal,
challenges
and
neo-nation
last
prejudices
Census
comparative
world
table
of
to
father
of
Islam
are
the
variations
Nepalis
cultural
geography,
unintelligible
grassroots
his
capital
conducted
The According
The
the
alpine of
Modem
snows
attitude,
the
of official
The
areas,
examples,
following
major
there
predominantly
huge
cultural
the
the
Doiakhareng
survey
Yearbook according
Thangmi
is
accurate and data.
The
where
Commission Organisation
failure
educated with Population
access
district ethnolinguistic point.
these are
alpine be
and spoke the miscommunication
Shah, infrastructure,
ecology,
four
mutually
population practising I
as
is
in
of or for
the
the
the
less
My the
may that
total and
For they data
that
have
state
come
areas off
being
to
in
Hindu
figure
people
data
Nepal,
visit
cultural
whom forjobs, citizens
to
and
criticism
and
raw
may
Thangini
including estimated in
they due
points
lower
few minorities.
population
population
these
of
total consult
clarification
mistaken
a
answers field
estimate
men
the
to
one
to
Thangrni
465
admit conducting
I
a
Gangtok.
the
and
to Daijeeling of
confidence
two permanently
include
deal
dominant
since the
themselves (albeit
of
where
applying
Kathmandu. as
Thangini to
ethnic
population
are
often
of
of
not districts
discrepancy
and
quantif’,
Támang,
led
not
them
the
Daijeeling
Thangrni and
that
being
below, point to
and
pass good
first
the
are
did
the
well
as
article, around
of
officials
them did
Thangmi a
migration
‘folk-healer’,
there
residing
many to
three, urge
realistic
requires
are
by as
Sikkim
total
degree
of
for
hard
table
and
shield asked
they
including
or
and
the the
when
simply
such
that
second
the
to
under
fair
non-Hindu
Nepal
The
the area pan of
is they
district in adding
more
Thangrni present
interpretation
they would a
two
that All
Dhãmi inhabit
a
of
figure
in
consequently
I
find
The
the
Thangmi
the groups the
reasons
this
and the
as
collected or
who although
come
admitting
brings
groups
than
many with on
strangers,
details
Indian
Kingdom, attempt
of
by
The settled
for stated
side,
will
totals
Bengal.
biased
census has
from
which
to
India.
Thangmi data
an
ethnic likely
the
This
the the
questions
Thami.
about
Thangmi
state
38,500 more
them,
whether
give two for
high
they
in
in ethnic
on
West
officials,
native
to
The
the no
from
on influential,
of can (CBS)
most
families people the
official
area. of
figure.
While
they
to
and
incursion substance
417
offer
not
name,
location,
‘blacksmiths’ importantly,
I
borders,
we
on
both
where
the
the
the Based
figures
discrimination
themselves prominent
census
questions
are districts 33,000
that the with
Districts.
of
heard
of
in
whole
like,
depends
more
prominent
counted.
little
the
Statistics groups
KémI
not
final
they
1990s, Thangmi
population
a
the
more
52-56, latent
of
of national
Other ever enough,
as
are
reason numerical
of
some
with economically
population
in
are
be
Nepalified suffice.
propose
invasive
the populations.
more
a
introduce
geographical
autochthonous
pan early
to
Thangmi
ethnic
perhaps
which
many
are
The
of like
objectivity of
pages
such
above,
have
they
will
in non-specified
their Nepal
population the conversations
Bureau
of the
and Thangmi
Nepal’s
would
and
are
labelled
the from
in
one
I mention
Natnlly of
1,000 3,000
of
in
on Thangmi
these Rai.
on
remote
Thangmi
Nepal’s
Thangmi the
to
to
stream Thangmi
areas total
Nepal,
groups
or
live
compare
have
manipulation
a
there
regions of
in within
Central 5,500.
of
I
described
not
then, the
their involved, to
4,400 positions
Second,
based
in total
country
nature
around
outside suspect
people.
as
tempered when
not but
indigenous
the
of
belong
sizeable
of
these wilful
and
other conclusion,
Daijeeling than
Guning
under
brief the
excluding
order
First,
to
are
is
who
Thangini
fact
low-caste
result
working
have
in
5,500
as figure.
to
the
category in in
sizeable,
Third,
of
have Discrimination Yearbook
just
in
estimate, brief
from
more
in
under-enumeration they
so
sounding
because
other
to
the accurate, are
may
Although
In 3,000 2000,
Moreover,
good
are readers
claimed
non-official)
a
the
so
administrative the
interesting
Sikldm
India
India,
simply
frequently, in population belonging from. similar unwittingly undesirable interviewed they census
Thangmi. received. for resulted Recently, figures. collected. backbone are
of statistics committees
informed there not March and in semi-permanently Silddm adds clarification. of and
regards although around those Statistical
I
it
is
in
in
of
for
the
the
per
real
also The
high
non-
then,
or
rough
a
While
is
census live
village clearly
district
a
detailed
any
sizeable
the
from
figure
Thangmi
Thangmi
is
widely,
double
the
one
At
have
Thangmi
Thangmi
and
and
800
Thangmi figures,
in
with
have
in
to
vary
usually
children.
of
figure
Dolakhá official
than
3,173
ascertain sizeable
these
of 58% may
and importance. Total
2,454
5,656
crucial.
District 10,677 which
the
official
stayed to
Sindhupalcok
Sindhupãlcok
conduct
children
to
I
included
are official more and
were
with
language in
number
With
for the
to
than
village-level
Sindhupâlcok,
and
no
not
district
women
confines The
1,177
in
which
there
Dolakhã
Nepal
population
managed
interest
in have
district I
were
in
of already 1998 While
greatest
5,025 2,454 men,
Thangmi difficult
between 48.9%
Thangmi
available
village from
women
Lapilang
the
Nepal,
Dolakhá
are village
the
not the
calculations.
1998,
Thangini
(19,103).
more
village
of
3,173
villages men, in
the
of to
Profiles in
are
Thangini
of
total administrative
ranging
the
in
Thangmi
population
6,000 considerable
Nepal
(1999:53).
other
surveys
the the
of
of
20,000),
take discrepancies
home of
estimated
many
figure of
villages six
1999
Village
1,177 Thangmi
3,424 Yearbook
5,656
34.4%
village
speakers
416
us
figures,
are
Dolakhã
villages
the
our
the
the
Sundrawati
within that
census
Thangmi figure
let are
equals
whole
for and
ten
Nepal
1,200
for
a
for
Three
table
Sindhupâlcok
that that further
population
just
above
at
in the
are
total
1991
in likely
there
percentage
Statistical
cited
least
six
the
a
from
is
2,000
posit
the
villages
above
at estimate,
the
reasons
the
there where stay
as arrive
believe
It Thangmi
on
of
within
1999
I
for
2,025 and
2,228
Thangmi district of 90.9% ten of
the
to
village least
Alampu
my
manner
villages that
were still
in
areas
at
the
the
ethnic
people
Statistics
Based
the
time
we
above.
Nepal,
of
average
figures
of
20,000
there
three
density,
of
number
of
During
an
conservative the
of
of
population
a
First,
calculate
a According
each
that
just at %
these
biow
Thangmi
in
are take
Dolakhâ, total
As
scenario,
outlined
summarised
in
as
of
inaccessible
I
a
of
Population
statistics
districts us
would
as
convincing.
at
Population populations.
population Population
I this
Conducted
Thangmi
that
figures.
let and
number.
There and
After
people
In
authorities
findings
Total Year Thangrni Total Thangrni
Population
eastern total
number
arrive
underestimate.
longer
clear ‘
accuracy,
each. official alone, official remote
Sindhupãlcok. an Thangini Sindhupâlcok local populations.
(2,000 the is Thangmi implications village, no estimate, we population the the
The to
to
in
of
the
for of
the
of
that also
the
will
been
will
their
that
that
will
to men
called
even
those
and
in
is
ethnic
despite tongue it up
it groups
Prior
Gurung,
included
It
religion” believe
different
younger
had
census
moment
results
Thangni unifying
seriously.
They
had
claim and
argue
a
within
represented
and
district-wide
asked,
made
the
who
1981), longer
before
ethnic
1991
Thangmi
realisation mother
1,200
of
ethnolinguistic
Restoration
be is doubling
While
diversity,
while
campaigners
them
Thakali,
identifying
a the
“natural
They to
census,
they
a
Nepal
reasonable,
of the
2001:4).
just
1920 scientific to
the
when complete 533
the modifications of,
and
of level
as
of
groups is
the
elders
by that
such at
of
Older
of in
other
languages
and
the 1991
(Rai
total
instead
and
(1961
out While
Nepal’s debate.
one
that
a and
group
the
disappointed.
heard
Nepalis
logic
before
of
the
communities. While
Dhimal
Nepal
national
suggest
of be
groups
volunteer
pressure
While grew alongside
matched
patchwork, population,
in
ethnonym their
now
mistakes
of
names
ironically
the “Kirati” single
to while proposal. to
Their
is the
impartial
decades broader
decided
revisions
individual grandchildren.
Nepal
for
the
as
at
151)
religions.
of and
have their
published, this
in
any of
and
ethnic
this
groups was ‘clan’
released finther
and
2002:5).
more practitioners
Census to
of
Thani,
recognition reason
of
It
included
in
different
an
Thami.
percentage called
repeat
indigenous
been
take groups series of
a
Nepal ethnonym
disadvantaged
two
been
their populations. (Rai preceding
a
“Buddhist”,
total
have
in
yet
to number to
percent,
the
point term promotion
invisible, they
while
have
as
are
children
indigenous
use
political name
have shamanic National 80 in of
inequalities
remains
not
Yakha
indigenous the
which three
small grouped.
made has
may opposition
national
419
of
come
to
of
for
groups) more
people
prominence
be their official census-taking on
that
has and
the should who
and
the
case
to
years
register
The
to
of
Nepal
volunteering
by
an
of
Second
of ethnicity,
the
Nepalifled greater
of
approach already
data
even
some
‘original’
community
as
ethnic representing to
percent
policy
on
the
groups pushing
followers
the
part consensus
the
a the
Kathmandu
would
the
comprised
90 the
government
Sunuwar longer in
wanted
considerable
least
recognition.
process
them
repression
in
interesting
the
to
is fragmented defeatist
and
and
is of
number success.
at
that
splitting
boosting the
cautious
ethnic
a
the
they an
favour section
from as
on the
little empowerment
activists
ethno-activists recorded
public,
activists
groups
first
a
(compared to
Limbu, recognised
render
there
and
questionnaires return formulate
of to national
some the
than
further which
yet
more
make a further
Statistics
reason,
to were fallen
appearance The
social
members be Râi,
present
ethnic
religion Buddhists to
the
not
seem
of
that young)
labelled had
requiring
for
activism
getting
boon
reasoning,
would this
of
has
group
and
remember of
census
first
consolidation
good are Rather
reported
officially
number
Thangmi,
less
ripe languages was note
census. active
would term
1990,
its have
which
their a clear Magar hamlets the
being
for
as
meetings 61
who
ethnic is
Bureau
of
usually
to
a
ethnic
Thangmi with Hindu the in
neighbours,
to
were
of
census
and 1950
is
number Thangmi
community.
the group
an as
made from
under economic The
some rights
time
and The consortium
questionnaire
(and
Countering
is
risk
their the
numbers
census,
the
a
unlaiown Central
for
2001 politically
women,
recorded
the
recognised.
the
an
1991
the
the community decide
and Tãmang absent interesting
until having
their from which
the ethnic religion
distribution reported languages (against
variation argue, campaigning groupings,
According take
and and and Thami at Democracy is
choosing
when be
Thangini that radical
is
in
the
the
this
was
figures
of
policy
mention
for
relative
illiterate
why numbers
coherent
reality
in
to population
improving
tensions
of
the
their populations,
is
and
not role
official
total Housing,
figures
small,
to
members
a
the
ethnic
true
by and
of
population
literacy
question
greater
+1-
±1-
+1-
+/- religion,
+1-
+1-
Sarlahi,
census
is
relates the
a
colourful
Figures)
non-Hindu suggest.
in the
of
I
a
small
their
voiced growing
between
show,
6,000
3,000 4,081 5,500
to
94
with the
Buddhism.
20,000
38,500 is
33,000
as is
Population
that
official
the
figures,
of
Population
Thangmi
and and turn
of
equate
exists
estimate
count
the
on
the
rituals which to
statistics
an
figures
(Non-official
must
of
shamans,
national
Aware
visibility one
the
clearly
right
we
by
Hinduism
the
Census
between
official
Kathmandu
and
figures,
and
are
of
population
in
Politics
sacrificial
cycle.
in
Sarlahi, greater
over
than
of
Population
418
Nepal
159 for
larger
provided,
representation
a
showing elements
Thanguil
Identity
divergence
disagreement population):
argument,
higher
population
calls
non-official
presided
ten-yearly have
entitled
districts.
I
collection
The
Ramechap,
Thangmi poor
see
the
much
national
vocal
associate
Ramechap,
that
Modern
is
other
Thangmi
Thang,nipopulation.):
theft
will
Thangmi
the to
Total
with
in
motley
stage. religion, (India)
census,
persuasive
20
of
incorporating
a
and considerable
considerable
of
the
you
those
of
a
a
of
1334
Indian
Indian
most
While
(Kathmandu,
Sikldm recent
aware
and
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likewise
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population
that national
increasingly
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Census
animistic
in
The
complex
in
Estimate
practising
and
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most
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numbers
Districts
Sindhuli,
making.
persons.
on
Districts 2001
the (including
(excluding
and
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for
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in
establish
in
population
community
hundred
religious
Thangnii
matters.
I On
established
a
Nepal’s
Sindhupâlcok Area Dolakhâ West
Other
Eastern
Total
Total
population
different.
invisibility
the
decision
Thangmi
country
etc)
recorded under
regarding
of
Having actually Thangmi (in)visibility Thangufi and with quite
tribal and syncretic Consensus
conducted the Journal 4. p. (2000): Leiden, and Nepal 2 Ashley their 1—13 3, Yogendra N. of and Tibet Brill: Janajatk of Nepal, in eds. Royal Hathaway, pp. R. International International in & 2/9. Nepal,’ on pp.4-5. the Uans. the Contemporary of of Academy) of Rogers, Vol. future,’ in 451—477 Leonard Thangrni,’ Identity H. Nepal, the Kathmandu, Explanations pp. Geolinguistics on Kathmandu: Nepal Cummings and in 1991. 42, Thangni Conference Seminar 1999. Levitt, the Library, Geography, and 1993. Language the No. Kenneth Proceedings and (Royal Press, Ninth Jesse Thoughts eds. Nepal, Territory Indigenous and Kathnndu. Studies today in Linguistics. the 2001, 1 among Morphology,’ ed. of 94, and of Some Society: Culture Ottawa Geolinguistics. International Hathaway, May 62—7 Ashley Rogers, of No. on & Tibetan Ethnolinguistic the 1993. world and Demography N. H. Nepalese Cited pp. Names of Kathmandu: Nepal: in and the 11-17 R. An 1999. 49-62. 2002, in 421 BrilI’s in Comparative Diemberger, Clan Anthropology Proceedings State,’ University Nepal. May Kenneth Cummings Times Contemporary Topics and Conference Vorks Hathaway, Nepal. of Leonard Democracy. in 2000). & and Dynamics 1(2001): ed. Literature, Proceedings 17-23 Studies: languages Linguistics York: Thangmi Hildegard Ottawa: Nepali Linguistic Thapa: Vol. & Levitt, on in Leiden and Washington 2, New Yearbook Ashley, Glover, Times in Language culture Ethnography Society: Tibetan Language International up,’ Cummings N. G. Jesse Notes Amerindians: ofNepalese Year in eds. R. the Schufftnan. Studies, Nepali stand Buffethile 2000: of Language among York: Other-Nyms: F. Dolakhâreng. in Statistical to Warren of Historical Nepal, Persistence and Journal Rogers, Katia New Tibetan Leonard (Fiats of Geolinguistics. 242—249 ‘Canada’s and want Contemporary in Face Harold H. Etymological Geolinguistics: Rishmi. Nepal,’ on ‘The for pp. N. reduction in by 1999. Statistics. L. on Proceedings It Levitt, Thangmi? Simi of Yadava ‘Janjatis ‘Placename ‘Ethnonyms Kenneth 253—269 drastic Himalayas Changing Jesse Nationalities Geolinguisrics. 1993. the Ethnicity,’ Language pp. in expanded Conference Society: and ‘Preliminary 2002. Leonard 69-83. Provenance, Association of Roland), Pnsad Academy, Bureau ‘The ‘Counting Meghraj ‘The Grant. ‘Whence Mark. Hemlata. Ashley, Breton, Smith, Central Rai, _____ Turin, Thãmi, ______
_____ ¶ a to as by lie the and this as way refer CBS lose- from upon write force. power central groups a basics’ of that no critique concern younger numeral Leonard political although the names in in will known of in the names, of please increasingly It is perhaps significantly their is be foisted with communities. ethnic increase language clan grave image of short, ethnolinguistic counterforce are to group, for not clan of ‘back of outspoken a different In is changes, Nepal is agree achieving these of motivations culture, using as officials fuel century. few, these and of of a dramatic hallmark, have former example tarnished The the and movement even state. a some than been wishThl small-scale choosing serve next have consistency capital but the children be the who of of shown, This allegiance the with will now. have growing might be representation charge and [and] nation members already rather of name a 2001 has ethnic government kind While historic by and visibility, to illustrative group will years the a They albeit for are also, ethnoffistoiy standing members groups ‘tribalised.’ nation. the or most Don’t Hindu an women paper by suit. the community some and ethnic years internal figure indubitably being to ethnic national They Gunrng, men, this surnames Nepali the for Dungsupere itself if of damaging (1993:244). language, represents community of follow as 420 will movement. dominant above and provides manipulation the .“ over other authenticity century against to the hundred ethnic and ‘clan-onymity’ names the group and statistics ethno-activists, Rismi, population Thangmi of further this government—still, Damned
422 423
SPEAKER IDENTITY IN CONFERENCE LANGUAGE
frena Vassileva University of Bonn
0 Cecchetto and Sfroinska (1997:148) “view scientific discourse as an instance of :4.j social interaction between authors and their audience [...]where the speakers (authors) - are perceived as presenting themselves to the audience (performing) in a specific way in / particular impression themselves and to define, as well as to control, rr.l order to give a of r_’ Q — I the communicative situation according to their goals.” That statement is especially I — valid for conference language, where speakers have at their disposal many more .—-: —- linguistic, as well as non-linguistic means of expression and, therefore, instruments for N audience manipulation. z.I This paper thus focuses on the similarities and differences in self-representation 4 and author/audience interaction in conference presentations among English, German 7 and German English linguists. The study draws on recorded data of paper presentations cD; in English and German by native speakers of the two languages, as well as presentations I, N_ ,—NJ y 4 q Germans in English. Several overt linguistic means of speaker identity - delivered by — t t - representation will be discussed: the first person singular “I” perspective versus the first Jj person plural “we” perspective, the ‘you’-perspective (direct address); the use of rhetorical questions; extra-textual references, jokes, story-telling elements, deixis, 0 .j personal reference and cross-reference to other speakersparticipating in the same event. 1 1, Constant comparison will be made with data from written texts (published articles) in order to establish the differencesbetween the two modes of academic communication. :‘, ‘a I I - S The average frequency use of the linguistic means enumerated above, as well 4.’ c of -, r ‘C - as speaker variation, are presented in the table below: 7 0 7 ‘A.. C “I -‘ English German German English
.,j I perspective — avenge 1.2 0.8 1.2
I perspective - speaker variation 0.5- 2.1 0.2—2.5 02— 1.8 ‘1 -- -. 7 ‘at we perspective —avenge 0.7 02 0.7 / ‘ac. —J ‘a wepeispective- speakervariation 0.06- 1.4 0.04—0.6 0.1—2 —— = ‘—-,0 C- 4% — —— C, :,‘y Vt .. you perspective — avenge 0.4 0.2 1.5 — E if — . — 4 -— 4 you perspective - speaker variation 0—1 0.05—1 0—2.4 -.4 ailmeans—average 2.47 1.4 3.5 ‘1 t;& tli, I all means - speaker variation 1.4 - 4.5 0.5 — 4.2 0.4 — 5.8 -WE