Tehrathum, March 6: The book A Grammar of Limbu (Based on the Phedape Dialect of the Old Limbu Heartland), authored by Dutch linguist George van Driem, was officially released on Wednesday.

The book launch event took place in Myanglung, the headquarters of Tehrathum, with support from Myanglung Municipality. Van Driem, a renowned linguist specializing in 10 languages, originally published the book in 1987 through the German-based Brill Publishing House. The Nepali edition has now been republished by Jagadamba Prakashan, Kathmandu, with support from the Swiss Embassy in Nepal.

This book provides an in-depth analysis of the grammar of the Phedape Limbu language. Santosh Tigela, Chair of Chhathar Rural Municipality, stated that the book would serve as a valuable resource for scholars worldwide interested in studying the Phedape Limbu language. Expressing his gratitude to the author, he emphasized the book’s significance as a historical linguistic document.

Similarly, Yadav Khapung, Chair of Menchayem Rural Municipality, highlighted the importance of language preservation, pointing out that while a foreign linguist like Van Driem has documented Phedape Limbu grammar, local authorities should also take serious steps toward safeguarding indigenous languages.

Van Driem, a Dutch national, conducted his research on the Phedape Limbu language in 1982 (2039 BS) while residing in Tamphula village of Myanglung-10, Tehrathum. He recalled how, during his studies, his professors sent him to Nepal’s Limbuwan region after he came across a research publication suggesting that the ancient form of the Sino-Tibetan (Bhot-Burmese) language family could be traced to Limbuwan. He conducted his linguistic study with the assistance of local researcher Narayan Limbu.

Laligurans Municipality Mayor Arjun Babu Mabohang noted that if Van Driem’s research—suggesting that "the entire human race expanded from Nepal’s Kumbhakarna and Dhaulagiri mountain regions" and that "the Bhot-Burmese language family originated from Phedape, Tehrathum"—is proven, Tehrathum could emerge as a global center for anthropological and linguistic research.

Jagdamba Prakashan stated that the republished edition, originally released over three decades ago, has been made accessible to Nepali readers with the support of the Swiss Embassy and other institutions.