Most of the Bantawa clan are now settled in Bhojpur,
Dharan, Illam, and Dhankuta. Recent figures show most of them are settled in Dharan. Bantawa is spoken in the following
districts of Nepal (
Ethnologue). •
Koshi Province:
Bhojpur District,
Dhankuta District,
Ilam District,
Jhapa District,
Khotang District,
Morang District,
Okhaldhunga District,
Panchthar District,
Sunsari District,
Taplejung District and
Udayapur District •
Sikkim,
Darjeeling,
Kalimpong of India Dialects are as follows (
Ethnologue). • Northern Bantawa (Chhinangkhongeli and dilpali) ::
Northern subdialects: Siptungkhali, Mangpahang, Awaichha, Rungchenbung and Yangma • Southern Bantawa (Chewali, Okhreli, Hatuwali, Hangkhim) ::''Southern and Northern Bantawa, similar, could be united as 'Intermediate Bantawa'.'' • Eastern Bantawa (Dhankuta) ::
Eastern dialect is the most divergent. It is most closely related to Dungmali language, though also related to Puma language, Sampang language, and Chhintange language. • Western Bantawa (Amchoke, Amchauke) ::
Amchaucke dialects: Sorung, Saharaja, Lulam, and Sukita • Wana Bantawa (also called simply Bantawa), spoken by the Bantawa subcaste. The Amchoke dialect is spoken in the Limbu area, especially in Ilam district. Bantawa is also considered as a superior clan in the Kiranti family. Bantawa is also reportedly in use as a
lingua franca among Rai minorities in Himalayan
Sikkim,
Darjeeling Kalimpong In India and
Bhutan. Meanwhile, the language is just being introduced in a few schools at the primary level (Year 1 – Year 5) using
Devanagari script. The extinct Waling language attested from the late 19th century may have been a variety of Bantawa, or a closely related language, if not the Hatuwali dialect the Waling people speak today. == Phonology ==