Raute

Facts

  • Language: Raute
  • Alternate names: Rautye, Harka Gurung, Khamchi, Boto Boli, Bot̪o Boli, Khāmci
  • Language code: rau
  • Language family: Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman, Western Tibeto-Burman, Himalayan, Central Himalayan, Raute-Raji (SIL classification)
  • Number of speakers: 700
  • Vulnerability: Vulnerable
  • Script: Unwritten.

More information:

    Ethnic autonym: Ra’te. The name may be of Tibeto-Burman origin, from ra- meaning human plus a person marker, -to or -te. Other scholars suggest it derives from the Sanskrit Indo-Aryan word raut from Sanskrit, rajaputra, prince. Rautes deem their language sacred and are linguistically conservative toward adopting non-Raute words or grammatical features. Traditional religion.

    Most of the Raute are foraging people of the Himalaya ridges, and their language is linguistically close to Raji and Banraji.