There are more than 19 dialects spoken in Bhutan, all of which are Tibeto-Burman languages. Most of the languages in Bhutan belong to two genetic groups of Central Bodish and East Bodish. Central Bodish languages are those which are derived from Old Tibetan. The Layakha (language of the Laya people) is the closest relative to Central Bodish languages. Laya dialect is the cultivated form of the native language of the Laya, the inhabitants of which as well as their language have traditionally been known as Layakha. The Laya were among the first in Bhutan to be blessed by the teachings of the Drukpa Kagyud (school of Buddhism) by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. Today as a result of increasing regional development, people from other Dzongkhags (districts) started coming to Laya and with them came different languages like Dzongkha, Tshanglakha, etc. Most of people in the community can also speak other languages fluently. Thus, people fear that the community may lose its own language. Tenzin also states that cross-cultural marriage; education and developmental activities can lead to serious breakdowns in communication. He says that the younger generation may not speak Layakha in the future because Layaps are living in a diverse society. Layakha represents a distinct set of traditions and the means of communication for the people of Laya. Language also plays a role in the self-image or identity of the Layaps. Language always kept communities intact and made for a tight social fabric.