In Part II (Section 4) , the author first presents a detailed examination
of all the so-far proposed genetic classifications of the Himalayan
languages, Tibeto-Burman languages spoken in the Himalayas to the
west of Bhutan, and recapitulates that there is admittedly concensus on
the classification of three subgroups: (1) the Himalayish languages, a
subgroup which nearly corresponds to Shafer's West Himalayish Section
and Benedict's Himalayish subnuclear group, including Manchad (Manchati/
Pattani) , Kanash (Kanashi) , Kanaur (Kanauri/Kinnauri) ,
Chhitkal (Chhitkali) ; Tinan (Tinani) , Ranglo (Rangloi) ; Bunan,
Thebor, Rangkas, Darma (Darmiya) , Chaudans (Chaudangsi) , Byans
(Byangsi) , (2) the Central Nepal languages, a tentative subgroup which
consists of Shafer's Gurung Branch and several newly found languages,
including the Tamang group (Tamang, Gurung, Manang, Thakali, Marpha,
Syang, Chantel) , Nar, Ghale, Kaike, and (3) the Rai-Limbu or
Kiranti languages, which nearly corresponds to Shafer's East Himalayish
Section and Benedict's Bahing-Vayu or Kiranti nucleus, including thirtyeight
languages according to G. Hansson's recent classification [1988].
He then examines the first two subgroups and their subclassifications,
proposing a slightly modified subclassification for Himalayish with an addition
of a newly found language, Rangpa, to this subgroup (Fig. 1) ,
and the interrelationships of the languages of the second (Fig. 2) with a
subclassification of the Tamang group (Fig. 3) . He also discusses the
linguistic position of Zhangzhung in relation to Himalayish in some
details.
As for the third subgroup, Rai-Limbu or Kiranti, whose
subclassification here adopted is that of Hansson, the author has compared
it in detail with those of Shafer [1953, 1967] and W. Winter [1987].