Lepcha language
Lepchas refer to their language as ‘Rong-aring’ or ‘Rongring’ and falls under the Tibeto-Burman family of languages. There are quite a few amazing aspects about the Lepcha language. The interesting thing about the Lepcha language is that the Lepcha wiseman seem to have sat together to give names of various animate and inanimate objects. Hence, almost all the names of animals start with the letter ‘Sa’, and the names of different types of snakes and various bamboo products start with the letters ‘Ta’ and ‘Pa’ respectively. Likewise there seem to be a rare but highly evolved system of nomenclature within the lepcha language. Even the famous Botanist J. Hooker has mentioned in his treatise that the lepcha system of naming the flora and fauna closely resembles the scientific method of naming involving the genus, species, family etc.
The language RONGARING has three dialects within itself. The first one is used converse with infants and involves the use of words that are very easy to pronounce and that with which the infants can identify easily. The second one is the prevalent one, mush used in adult Lepcha conversation. The third and the most difficult one, is mainly used in prayers and invocations of the MUN and BONGTHING. It is metaphorical in nature and uses intricate combinations of words and phrases.
Lepcha language reflects ample monosyllabic traits. As is peculiar with this family of speeches, constraints in the range of vocabulary have helped musical elements in the Lepcha speech. Lepchas have their own script and have elaborate ancient literary works called namthars.
The arrival of the Tibetans and after that the Nepalis have affected the use of the RONG ARING. The later Chogyals (Kings) emphasized the use of Tibetan language through monasteries and rapid conversion of the Lepcha into Buddhism. The arrival of nepali speaking communities in large number also ensured that the Lepcha remained confined to far reaches and only to Lepcha settlements. Last but not the least the Christian and their English schools brought along another mass upheaval that saw more Lepchas opting for more attractive and flamboyant language English. The introduction of the Lepcha language in the CBSE curriculum in SIKKIM ensured that the Lepcha language did not get lost in antiquity. The inclusion of the language in the ICSE (efforts of the SIKKIM LEPCHA YOUTH ASSOCIATION) also brought relief to parents whose children were in ICSE schools. All this has ensured resurgence in the Lepcha language with more literary works and communication, and the phenomenon is on the rise.
Col.G.B. Mainwaring of the Bengal Staff corps, who married a lepcha lady, made a detailed study of the language and came out with the Lepcha dictionary and grammer. He was so impressed with the intricacies of the Lepcha language that he speculated that this must be the language that was spoken in the Garden of Eden as he realised that Lepcha language had no obscenities and no specific curse words.
Lepchas are like magicians in bamboo crafts and produce a wide variety of aesthetically beautiful baskets and such other things that come handy in daily chores. Their knowledge of poisonous and non-poisonous plants, snakes and information on other flora and fauna are phenomenal. But, with modernity making steady inroads into the Lepcha way of life such age-old wisdom are increasingly cruising away into the sphere of myths and legends.
