Language evolution and vitality of Lhagang Tibetan, a Tibetic language as a minority in Minyag Rabgang

Abstract

Lhagang Tibetan is a dialect of Khams spoken in central Lhagang [lHa-sgang] Town, in the area surrounding Lhagang Monastery in Kangding Municipality, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, western Sichuan Province. The region where this dialect is spoken was traditionally called Minyag Rabgang [Mi-nyag Rab-sgang], and is where Darmdo Minyag, a Qiangic language regarded as a minority language by linguists, is spoken. Previous studies have identified the Tibetic languages as its cultural superstratum. However, Lhagang Tibetan is one of the local Tibetic varieties which is least influenced by Darmdo Minyag. Instead, it is in greater contact with Amdo, which is spoken by Tibetans living around Lhagang Monastery. In this unique sociolinguistic situation, Lhagang Tibetan has become a minority language of the Minyag Rabgang area. The linguistic situation of the Tibetic languages in Minyag Rabgang is complicated, and only a few studies have dealt with this issue. In this article, we will discuss: (1) the geographical definition of Minyag Rabgang and the distribution of languages within it; (2) the current situation of the Tibetic languages spoken around Lhagang Monastery, and; (3) the ongoing language evolution and vitality of the sedentary Khams variety of Lhagang Tibetan.