1903.] E. H. Walsh —Tibetan Language , &f Recent Dictionaries. 79 
interpreter to be able to speak Tibetan with his hosts. However, after 
some time Easterners and Westerners end by understanding one another. 
If there are differences in the use of words in the turn and terminations 
of phrases, in the pronunciation, etc., there are also resemblances, 
general.usages, pronunciations which resemble more or less and indicate 
a common origin, one same language; but it is this which practice alone 
can distinguish.” 
The language of Lhasa and Central Tibet does, however, to a great 
extent supply this common language, and it has been aptly termed 
the lingua franca of Eastern and Northern Central Asia. 
The reason for this lies mainly in the vast central university which 
the three great monasteries of Sera, Depung, and Gaden, in the imme¬ 
diate neighbourhood of Lhasa, form for the priesthood from all parts of 
Tibet, and even from Mongolia, Higher Asia, and China; and to a less 
degree, to the great number of pilgrims that visit Lhasa from all parts 
of Tibet. 
I have myself made certain enquiries as to the mutual intelligibi¬ 
lity of Central Tibetan, Sharpa, Sikhim, and Bhutanese languages. 1 I 
have consulted several Tibetans about the mutual differences between 
them and their relative intelligibility to one another. The general 
opinion is that, taking Central Tibetan as the Standard, the Bhutanese 
is the least intelligible of these four to persons of the other langu¬ 
ages. 
A Bhutanese will understand a Tibetan better than the Tibetan 
will understand him, but they can make themselves mutually under¬ 
stood. 
A Sharpa would at first hardly understand a Bhutanese at all; as 
in their case the variation from the Central Tibetan is in another 
direction. 
A Bhutanese will understand a Sikhimite more easily than the 
Sikhimite will understand him; as the Sikhim language is spoken more 
slowly and distinctly, but they are mutually understood. Between the 
Sikhim language and Central Tibetan there is great resemblance, and 
they readily understand each other. The Sikhim language is spoken 
more slowly and the consonants are more distinctly sounded. 
A comparative list of a number of Tibetan, Sharpa, and Bhutanese 
words have been given by Hodgson in his comparative Vocabulary of 
the several languages or dialects of the Eastern Sub-Himalayas. 8 
• 
1 On this subject see also pages 330-332, Census of India, 1901. Volume VI, 
Bengal. Part I. Report. Calcutta, Bengal Secretariat Press, 1902. 
2 J. A. S. B. 1844: ami “ The Languages, Literature, and Religion of Nepal and 
Tibet,” by B. H. Hodgson. Triibner and Co., 1874. 
