Langenesis

Sino-Tibetan family

Dzongkha

c. 1600 CE – today Living

Dzongkha (c. 1600 CE – today) is a living Sino-Tibetan language. Lineage: Proto-Sino-Tibetan → Proto-Tibeto-Burman → Old Tibetan → Classical Tibetan → Dzongkha.

See Dzongkha on the interactive map
Speakers
170K (170,000)
ISO 639-3
dzo
Glottocode
dzon1239

Tibetic language of western Bhutan and Bhutan's national language since 1971. Written in Tibetan script; descended from Old Tibetan via South Tibetic varieties (Classical Tibetan parent is a simplification).

Lineage

  1. Proto-Sino-Tibetanc. 4,000 BCE – 2,500 BCE
  2. Proto-Tibeto-Burmanc. 2,500 BCE – 1,000 BCE
  3. Old Tibetanc. 650 CE – 1000 CE
  4. Classical Tibetanc. 900 CE – 1900 CE
  5. Dzongkhac. 1600 CE – today

Sister languages 1

Also descended from Classical Tibetan.

Sources