Dzongkha facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dzongkha |
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| Bhutanese རྫོང་ཁ་ |
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The word "Dzongkha" in Jôyi, a Bhutanese form of the Uchen script
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| Native to | Bhutan | |||
| Ethnicity | Bhutanese | |||
| Native speakers | 171,080 (2013)e18 Total speakers: 640,000 |
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| Language family |
Sino-Tibetan
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| Early forms: |
Proto-Sino-Tibetan
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| Dialects |
Laya
Lunana
Adap
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| Writing system | Tibetan alphabet Dzongkha Braille |
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| Official status | ||||
| Official language in |  Bhutan |
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| Regulated by | Dzongkha Development Commission | |||
| Linguasphere | 70-AAA-bf | |||
Districts of Bhutan in which the Dzongkha language is spoken natively are highlighted in yellow.
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Dzongkha (pronounced "Zong-kha") is a special language. It is also known as Bhutanese. This language is the official national language of the country Bhutan.
Contents
What is Dzongkha?
Dzongkha is a language from the Tibetic family. This means it is related to the language spoken in Tibet. It has been spoken in Bhutan for a very long time.
How Many People Speak Dzongkha?
About 171,080 people speak Dzongkha as their first language. This number was recorded in 2013. However, if you count everyone who speaks it, including those who learn it later, the total is around 640,000 speakers.
Where is Dzongkha Spoken?
Dzongkha is mainly spoken in Bhutan. It is used in many parts of the country. The map in the infobox shows the areas where people speak Dzongkha as their native language. These areas are highlighted in yellow.
Dzongkha and Bhutan's Culture
Dzongkha is very important to Bhutan's culture. It helps connect people across the country. As the national language, it is used in government and education. It helps keep Bhutan's unique identity strong.
How is Dzongkha Written?
Dzongkha uses the Tibetan alphabet. This writing system has been used for centuries. It looks quite different from the English alphabet. The word "Dzongkha" itself means "the language of the dzong". A dzong is a special type of fortress-monastery found in Bhutan.
Learning Dzongkha
Children in Bhutan learn Dzongkha in school. It is an important part of their education. There is even a special system called Dzongkha Braille for people who are visually impaired. The Dzongkha Development Commission helps to promote and protect the language.
Images for kids
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Jakar Dzong, a building that shows the special dzong architecture. The language Dzongkha is named after these buildings.
