Cambodia - LANGUAGES LANGUAGES Cambodia Table of Contents The majority of Cambodians, even those who are not ethnic Khmer, speak Khmer, the official language of the country. Ethnic Khmer living in Thailand, in Vietnam, and in Laos speak dialects of Khmer that are more or less intelligible to Khmer speakers from Cambodia. Minority languages include Vietnamese, Cham, several dialects of Chinese, and the languages of the various hill tribes. Austroasiatic-Mon-Khmer Khmer belongs to the Mon-Khmer family of the Austroasiatic phylum of languages. American linguists David Thomas and Robert Headley have divided the Mon-Khmer family into nine branches: Pearic in western Cambodia and eastern Thailand; Khmer in Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos; Bahnaric in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia; Katuic in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia; Khmuic in Laos, Thailand, and China; Monic in Burma and Thailand; Palaungic in Burma, China, and Thailand; Khasi in Assam (India); and Viet-Muong in Vietnam.

Of the languages in the Mon-Khmer family, Vietnamese has the largest number of speakers (about 47 million); Khmer, has the next largest (about 8 million). Khmer, in contrast to Vietnamese, Thai, Lao, and Chinese, is nontonal. Native Khmer words may be composed of one or two syllables. Khmer is uninflected, but it has a rich system of affixes, including infixes, for derivation. Generally speaking, Khmer has nouns (including pronouns as a special subcategory), verbs (including stative verbs or adjectives), adverbs, and various kinds of words called particles (including verbal auxiliaries, prepositions, conjunctions, final particles, and interjections). Many Khmer words change, chameleon-like, from one part of speech to another, depending on the context. The normal word order is subject-verb-object. Adjectival modifiers follow the nouns they modify. Khmer, like its neighbors, Thai, Lao, and Burmese, has borrowed extensively from other languages, especially the Indic languages of Sanskrit and Pali.

Khmer uses Sanskrit and Pali roots much as English and other West European languages use Latin and Greek roots to derive new, especially scientific, words. Khmer has also borrowed terms-- especially financial, commercial, and cooking terms--from Chinese. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Khmer borrowed from French as well. These latter borrowings have been in the realm of material culture, especially the names for items of modern Western technology, such as buuzii (spark plug) from the French bougie. Khmer is written in a script derived from a south Indian alphabet. The language has symbols for thirty-three consonants, twenty-four dependent vowels, twelve independent vowels, and several diacritic. Most consonants have reduced or modified forms, called subscripts, when they occur as the second member of a consonant cluster. Vowels may be written before, after, over, or under a consonant symbol. Some efforts to standardize Khmer spelling have been attempted, but inconsistencies persist, and many words have more than one accepted spelling. A two-volume dictionary prepared under the direction of the Venerable Chuon Nath of the Buddhist Institute in Phnom Penh is the standard work on Khmer lexicography.

Khmer is divided into three stages--Old Khmer (seventh to twelfth century A.D.), Middle Khmer (twelfth to seventeenth century A.D.), and Modern Khmer (seventeenth century to the present). It is likely that Old Khmer was the language of Chenla. What the language of Funan was, but it was is not at all certain, probably a Mon-Khmer language. The earliest inscription in Khmer, found at Angkor Borei in Takev Province south of Phnom Penh, dates from A.D. 611. Austronesian The Austronesian languages are spread over vast areas of Asia and the Pacific, from Madagascar to Easter Island and from Taiwan to Malaysia. Four Austronesian languages--Cham, Jarai, Rade, and Malay--are spoken in Cambodia. Cham is spoken by the largest number of people. Before 1975, there were about 100,000 speakers of Western Cham. Western Cham is the term used to distinguish (at least two mutually related dialects of) the Cham spoken in Cambodia and that used in adjacent inland Vietnam from Eastern Cham spoken in the coastal areas of central Vietnam.

Western Cham is written in Arabic script, or, since the late 1960s and the early 1970s, in a romanized script devised by Protestant missionaries. The traditional Cham script, based on an Indian script, is still known and used by the Eastern Cham in Vietnam, but it has been lost by the Western Cham. The Cham language is also nontonal. Words may contain one, two, or three syllables. Cham contains much linguistic borrowing from Arabic, Malay, and Khmer. The normal word order is subject-verb-object, and, as in Khmer, modifying adjectives follow the nouns that they modify. Most Cham in Cambodia are bilingual in Cham and in Khmer and many also know Arabic and Malay. Rade and Jarai, close relatives of Cham, are spoken by several thousand members of both ethnic groups in northeastern Cambodia. Both languages are written in romanized scripts based on the Vietnamese alphabet. Rade and Jarai have rich oral literatures, and the former has two epic tales that have been transcribed and published. Custom Search Cambodia | Ethnologue Ethnologue Cambodia A country in Asia The number of individual languages listed for Cambodia is 27. All are living languages.

Of these, 19 are indigenous and 8 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 5 are institutional, 5 are developing, 2 are vigorous, 10 are in trouble, and 5 are dying. Official Name 85,000 General References Bradley 2007a, Campbell and King 2011, Diffloth and Zide 1992, Lebar et al 1964, Thomas and Headley 1970, Voegelin and Voegelin 1977, Wurm and Hattori 1981 Language Counts The number of individual languages listed for Cambodia is 27. All are living languages. Of these, 19 are indigenous and 8 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 5 are institutional, 5 are developing, 2 are vigorous, 10 are in trouble, and 5 are dying. Products Cambodia Guide: Languages in Cambodia, The official language of Khmer and other dialects: Although Cambodia The official language of Khmer and other dialects By Just Landed Although Cambodia has an official language, there are numerous regional dialects that constitute the country’s vast linguistic make-up.

Khmer The official language of Cambodia is Khmer. It originates from the Khmer people and has been influenced considerably by Sanskrit and Pali, particularly in the royal and religious registers, and through Hinduism and Buddhism. The language has come in close contact with Thai, Lao, Vietnamese and Cham due to geographical proximity and cultural connection. Khmer’s main distinction from its neighbouring languages is that it is not a tonal language. The earliest written and recorded language from the Mon-Khmer family, Khmer is spoken by 90% of the population (some 7 million people) and is used in most social and professional contexts such as government administration, education at all levels and in mass media. After Vietnamese, it is the second most widely spoken Austroasiatic language. Modern Khmer is used nationwide and is understood by most of the country’s inhabitants. Influence from Sanskrit and Pali is characterised by vocabulary used in administration, and the effect of years of French colonial rule is evident in the language too. Examples of first and second series consonants in Khmer Khmer is mostly an analytic, isolating language. There are no conjugations, inflections or case endings.

Rather, particles and auxiliary words are used to indicate grammatical relationships. General word order is subject-verb-object. Consonants are split into two forms - a first series syllable (/a/) or a second series syllable (/o/). Vowels are written above, below, in front of, after or around consonants using separate letters or diacritics. Below is an example of Khmer text taken from Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, followed by a transliteration written in the Roman alphabet and its translation into English, as a brief introduction to the language. mnoussa teangoasa kaetamk mean seripheap ning pheap smae knea knong setthi ning sechakdeithlaithnaur. mnoussa krobroub sotthote mean vichearonanhnhean ning satesambochonhnh haey trauv br pru td champoh knea towvinhtowmk knong smartei reaban knea chea bangobaaun. “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” (Text taken from omniglot.com) There is a variation of Khmer called Khmer Surin, spoken by the migrant community from Thai provinces Surin, Sisaket, Burirum and Roi Et. It differs considerably from standard Khmer with regards to vowel phonemes, lexicon, grammar and the pronunciation of syllable-final /r/. Cambodian French The presence of French in Cambodia began in the late 1800s when French merchants were exploring Indonesia, and Cambodia became incorporated into French Indochina in 1887. The French exerted considerably less influence on Cambodia than they did in Vietnam, and the language only began to experience some significant growth with the Japanese invasion during World War II, when French joined Cambodian as a government language. Following the war, French became the sole official language and continued to be promoted after Cambodian independence in 1953. Since then, its levels of prominence have wavered considerably. The language began to decline heavily and when the Khmer Rouge came into power in the mid-1970s, French was almost entirely eliminated from the country.

However, French was reintroduced to Cambodia by a Vietnamese invasion which established the People’s Republic of Kampuchea, and the language continued to gain ground until the current government was installed in 1993 and Cambodian became the official language. Now English is seen as a more useful international language, but as of 1997 there is a French-language centre in the capital Phnom Penh and many Cambodian students study abroad in France every year. Moreover, French is still a diplomatic language of Cambodia and some newspapers are published in French. French Cambodian has been influenced by Cambodian, Cantonese Chinese and Teochew Chinese, and is more distinct that standard French than the dialects of Vietnam and Laos. Cham Cham is not only spoken by around 200,000 people in Cambodia, but also by approximately 100,000 in Vietnam and others in Southeast Asia. It belongs to the Austronesian family. Cham had many more speakers during the time of the Champa Empire, which ruled what is now central Vietnam from around the 7th century to 1832.

Here are some example words in Cambodian Cham: anoek - child amoh - hate Chong This language is endangered and is now only spoken by around 5,000 people in the Pursat province of Cambodia and by 500 in Thailand. Jarai The Jarai language is a Malayo-Polynesian dialect spoken by the Jarai people of Vietnam and Cambodia. The number of speakers is estimated to be around 330,000 and is in part related to the Cham language. In terms of phonology, Jarai has evolved in the pattern of the Mon-Khmer family, losing almost all vowel distinction in the first syllable. Kuy Although Kuy is spoken mostly in Thailand and Laos, it also features among in the Preah Vihear, Stung Treng and Kampong Thom provinces of northeastern Cambodia. A Katuic language and part of the larger Austroasiatic family, it is subject to many variations across various districts. Stieng This is the native language of the Stieng people of southern Vietnam and neighbouring areas of Cambodia. It too is a Mon-Khmer language from the Austroasiatic family.

Bulo Stieng, its most researched dialect, is spoken mostly in the remote areas of the mountains and jungles. The use of English As mentioned in the description of Cambodian French earlier in the article, English is seen as the most important international language. This is largely due to Cambodia’s recent transformation towards a market economy and consequent globalisation process. Those looking to find a job easily upon graduation from university are making more of an effort to learn English so that they can deal with global investors. Those seeking jobs in tourism are also encouraged to learn English. However, this does not mean that it is universally known or understood, and an effort should be made to integrate with the community into which you move by learning as much of the local language as possible. See our next guide article to learning the language to discover how to find language learning resources and schools in Cambodia It is worth noting that Chinese is also emerging as a popular language in Cambodia for its practical utility. Khmer The official language of Cambodia is Khmer. It originates from the Khmer people and has been influenced considerably by Sanskrit and Pali, particularly in the royal and religious registers, and through Hinduism and Buddhism.

The language has come in close contact with Thai, Lao, Vietnamese and Cham due to geographical proximity and cultural connection. Khmer’s main distinction from its neighbouring languages is that it is not a tonal language. The earliest written and recorded language from the Mon-Khmer family, Khmer is spoken by 90% of the population (some 7 million people) and is used in most social and professional contexts such as government administration, education at all levels and in mass media. After Vietnamese, it is the second most widely spoken Austroasiatic language. Modern Khmer is used nationwide and is understood by most of the country’s inhabitants. Influence from Sanskrit and Pali is characterised by vocabulary used in administration, and the effect of years of French colonial rule is evident in the language too. Examples of first and second series consonants in Khmer Khmer is mostly an analytic, isolating language. There are no conjugations, inflections or case endings. Rather, particles and auxiliary words are used to indicate grammatical relationships. General word order is subject-verb-object. Consonants are split into two forms - a first series syllable (/a/) or a second series syllable (/o/).

Vowels are written above, below, in front of, after or around consonants using separate letters or diacritics. Below is an example of Khmer text taken from Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, followed by a transliteration written in the Roman alphabet and its translation into English, as a brief introduction to the language. mnoussa teangoasa kaetamk mean seripheap ning pheap smae knea knong setthi ning sechakdeithlaithnaur. mnoussa krobroub sotthote mean vichearonanhnhean ning satesambochonhnh haey trauv br pru td champoh knea towvinhtowmk knong smartei reaban knea chea bangobaaun. “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” (Text taken from omniglot.com) There is a variation of Khmer called Khmer Surin, spoken by the migrant community from Thai provinces Surin, Sisaket, Burirum and Roi Et.

It differs considerably from standard Khmer with regards to vowel phonemes, lexicon, grammar and the pronunciation of syllable-final /r/. Cambodian French The presence of French in Cambodia began in the late 1800s when French merchants were exploring Indonesia, and Cambodia became incorporated into French Indochina in 1887. The French exerted considerably less influence on Cambodia than they did in Vietnam, and the language only began to experience some significant growth with the Japanese invasion during World War II, when French joined Cambodian as a government language. Following the war, French became the sole official language and continued to be promoted after Cambodian independence in 1953. Since then, its levels of prominence have wavered considerably. The language began to decline heavily and when the Khmer Rouge came into power in the mid-1970s, French was almost entirely eliminated from the country. However, French was reintroduced to Cambodia by a Vietnamese invasion which established the People’s Republic of Kampuchea, and the language continued to gain ground until the current government was installed in 1993 and Cambodian became the official language.

Now English is seen as a more useful international language, but as of 1997 there is a French-language centre in the capital Phnom Penh and many Cambodian students study abroad in France every year. Moreover, French is still a diplomatic language of Cambodia and some newspapers are published in French. French Cambodian has been influenced by Cambodian, Cantonese Chinese and Teochew Chinese, and is more distinct that standard French than the dialects of Vietnam and Laos. Cham Cham is not only spoken by around 200,000 people in Cambodia, but also by approximately 100,000 in Vietnam and others in Southeast Asia. It belongs to the Austronesian family. Cham had many more speakers during the time of the Champa Empire, which ruled what is now central Vietnam from around the 7th century to 1832. Here are some example words in Cambodian Cham: anoek - child amoh - hate Chong This language is endangered and is now only spoken by around 5,000 people in the Pursat province of Cambodia and by 500 in Thailand.

Jarai The Jarai language is a Malayo-Polynesian dialect spoken by the Jarai people of Vietnam and Cambodia. The number of speakers is estimated to be around 330,000 and is in part related to the Cham language. In terms of phonology, Jarai has evolved in the pattern of the Mon-Khmer family, losing almost all vowel distinction in the first syllable. Kuy Although Kuy is spoken mostly in Thailand and Laos, it also features among in the Preah Vihear, Stung Treng and Kampong Thom provinces of northeastern Cambodia. A Katuic language and part of the larger Austroasiatic family, it is subject to many variations across various districts. Stieng This is the native language of the Stieng people of southern Vietnam and neighbouring areas of Cambodia. It too is a Mon-Khmer language from the Austroasiatic family. Bulo Stieng, its most researched dialect, is spoken mostly in the remote areas of the mountains and jungles. The use of English As mentioned in the description of Cambodian French earlier in the article, English is seen as the most important international language.

This is largely due to Cambodia’s recent transformation towards a market economy and consequent globalisation process. Those looking to find a job easily upon graduation from university are making more of an effort to learn English so that they can deal with global investors. Those seeking jobs in tourism are also encouraged to learn English. However, this does not mean that it is universally known or understood, and an effort should be made to integrate with the community into which you move by learning as much of the local language as possible. See our next guide article to learning the language to discover how to find language learning resources and schools in Cambodia It is worth noting that Chinese is also emerging as a popular language in Cambodia for its practical utility. Cambodia - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette Cambodia Guide Award-Winning Culture Guides 80+ country-specific guides covering country characteristics, the people, language, culture, etiquette, business protocol, communication styles and much more .

Cambodia Guide Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette Facts and Statistics Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos Capital: Phnom Penh Ethic Groups: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4% Religions: Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5% Language in Cambodia Khmer is the official language of Cambodia and is used in most social contexts including government administration, education at all levels, and in the mass media. It is spoken by some 7 million people living there, roughly 90% of the population. Regional differences are slight and normally mutually intelligible. Based on the dialect of the capital city of Phnom Penh, Modern Khmer is used throughout the nation and widely understood by its inhabitants. Much Khmer vocabulary used in literature, the military, and administration is borrowed from Sanskrit, or Pali. Due to years of French colonial rule, numerous French words have been incorporated into the language as well. Cambodian Society & Culture Religion The majority of Cambodians follow Theravada Buddhism.

Originating in India, the religion teaches that life and death in this world are intertwined through the concept of reincarnation. Every person lives a life as a worldly being and depending on their behaviour will come back in their next life as a higher or lower being. "Karma" is the term used to describe this - i.e. if you do good you will have good karma. A rough translation of this is, "you reap what you sow." Theravada Buddhism has the following principles: Have the right thoughts. Buddhism also reinforces a sense of hierarchy within society. Interpersonal communication is built on the relationship between those involved. Common hierarchical guidelines are that parents are superior to children, teachers to students and managers to subordinates. Monks will even walk in rank order, highest in front and most junior at the rear. As a foreigner you may find that people ask personal questions - this is a means to identify your 'rank' rather than being nosy. They may change the way they communicate depending on your status. Collectivism Cambodia is a collective society - individuals take second place to the group whether this is the family, neighbourhood or company.

In such societies, etiquette and protocol guidelines are used to maintain a sense of common harmony - for example subtle communication styles are employed in order to minimize the chances of causing offense to others. The concept of face also ties in with this collective outlook. Protecting both one's own and other's face is extremely important. Face can roughly be translated as a combination of honour, dignity and public reputation that is attributed to a person. Face can be lost, given and accrued. Foreigners in Cambodia need to be aware of the mechanics of face to ensure they do not cause anyone to lose face as a result of unintentional actions. Face is lost when someone is criticized, embarrassed or exposed in public. It can be given by complimenting someone publicly, i.e. for their business acumen or hospitality. Cambodian Etiquette and Customs Meeting & Greeting Greetings between Cambodians are dependent on the relationship/hierarchy/age between the people. The traditional greeting is a bow combined with a bringing of the hands together at chest level (similar to bringing hands together for prayer). If one intends to show greater respect the bow is lower and the hands brought higher. With foreigners Cambodians have adopted the western practice of shaking hands.

Women may still use the traditional Cambodian greeting. The simple rule is to respond with the greeting you are given. In Cambodia people are addressed with the honorific title "Lok" for a man and "Lok Srey" for a woman followed with the first name or both the first and surname. Gift Giving Etiquette Gifts are usually given at Cambodian New Year (Chaul Chnam). Birthdays are not big events like in the West and people of the older generation may not even know their date of birth. Unlike most other cultures, Cambodians do not celebrate birthdays. In fact, many older people may not know the exact date of their birth. A small gift can also be taken if invited to someone's home for food. If invited to a home, take nicely presented fruit, sweets, pastries or flowers. Avoid giving knives. Gifts are usually wrapped in colorful paper. Do not use white wrapping paper, as it is the color of mourning. When giving gifts use both hands. Gifts are not opened when received. Dining Etiquette Table manners are fairly formal. If unconfident with the dos and don'ts simply follow what others do.

When invited to the dining table wait to be told where to sit as you would not want to upset any hierarchical arrangements. The oldest person is usually seated first. Similarly the eldest person should start eating before others. Do not begin eating until the eldest person starts. Never discuss business in such social settings. Business Etiquette and Protocol in Cambodia Meeting and Greeting As Cambodia is a hierarchical culture the business world follows suit in terms of protocol and behaviours. Respect and deference must always be shown to the most senior person. When meeting a group you will be introduced to the highest ranking person, similarly you should have the most senior of your group greet them. If groups are involved you should introduce people according to rank so that your Cambodian counterparts understand the dynamics of the group. Handshakes are normal although be careful not to be too firm as this may be construed as aggressive. If men are dealing with women they should wait and see if they extend a hand before doing so. Eye contact should be kept to a minimum. Cambodians address people with the honorific title "Lok" for a man and "Lok Srey" for a woman with the first name alone or both the first and surname.

Business Cards Business cards should be exchanged after the initial introductions. Have one side of your card translated into Khmer if possible. Present your card so the Khmer side is readable to the recipient. Use the right hand or both hands when offering or receiving a business card. It is important to treat business cards with respect as the way you handle the card is indicative of the way you will treat the person. Business Meetings Meetings do not stick to any schedule or agenda. Issues may be tackled separately and altogether if need be - once an issue has seemingly been resolved it may later be addressed again. Meetings will continue until the attendees feel everything has been satisfactorily covered. Building a relationship on mutual trust is crucial so initially time should be invested in getting to know your counterparts. Small talk should always be employed at the beginning of meetings. Cambodians are very indirect communicators so some reading between the lines is a necessary skill. They will always consider the implications of making statements or using particular words especially if it involves anything negative as this draws in the issue of face. In fact if Cambodians disagree with someone they would rather remain silent than make any comment. If they disagree with an idea, they generally remain silent. If unsure about statements be sure to double check.

Cambodians prefer ideas to be brought forward in a gentle way and to wait for others to respond. Pushy, pressured or boastful communication styles are a real turn-off. Punctuality is important. Arriving late shows a lack of respect for the person with whom you are meeting. Non-verbal behaviour is just as important to be aware of. For example, smiling in Cambodia is situational and can have many meanings; it may mean a person does not understand what has been said, they are nervous or even irritated. Showing emotions is considered a negative behaviour. Anger, impatience or frustration should be hidden as it would lead to a loss of face. overtly is not part of the culture and is considered a sign of weakness as well as poor manners. Modesty and humility are emphasized in the culture, so compliments and praise are generally responded to by a deprecating comment. It is a good idea not to speak with bravado, which may be interpreted as boasting. Avoid prolonged eye contact. Indochina: Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam Indochina: Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam Outline o Culture, Language, and Religion o Persistent Poverty 2.

Demographic Analysis based on Population Data Sheet 2007 o Population mid 2007 o Percent Under 15 / Over 65 o Population Natural Growth o Projected Populations ï¿½ 2025/2050 o Population Density 5. Review questions Regional Characteristics The three countries of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam represent Indochina, located in Southeast Asia to the south of China and to the east of Thailand. Like much of this part of the world Indochina was colonized by Europeans. The French occupied Indochina for most of the nineteenth century and for the first half of the twentieth century. The physical environment of Indochina is mostly mountainous. Climate, the Indochina peninsula as a whole experiences a monsoon tropical climate type of environment. The summer rains are brought by winds from the oceans leaving the peninsula subjected to typhoons during the late summer period. The winters are cooler and drier, and are dominated by winds blowing outward from Asiaï¿½s interior. Cambodia experiences a tropical savanna climate and tends to receive about 60 to 80 inches of average annual rainfall.

Cambodia is mostly plains along and to the west of the lower Mekong River with mountain fringes to the northeast and southwest. Vietnam has two different climates in the north and south. North Vietnam experiences a humid subtropical climate while South Vietnam tends to have a tropical rainy climate. Vietnam receives the most rain on the Indochina Peninsula averaging over 80 inches annually. Laos also has two different climates because like Vietnam is an elongated country that stretches between two climates. North Laos has a humid subtropical much like that of North Vietnam. South Laos, however, is much like Cambodia in that it experiences a tropical savanna climate. Laos also receives averagely 60 to 80 inches of rainfall with some parts reaching over 80 inches. Laos is mountainous, sparsely populated, and landlocked between Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. These three countries are each very different and a particular culture dominates each country. The religions of Indochina are numerous, but the main religions are prevalent throughout the region. Indian traders brought Hindu and Buddhist religions across the ocean from the west.

The distinctive Indian culture and architecture, reflected in temples of Angkor, Cambodia, led to the area that includes Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam being called Indochina. People known as Mon and Khmer occupied the Cambodian area from the North and between A.D 800s and 1200s it was the center of the Khmer empire. The language of Cambodia is Khmer while the religion is Buddhism. Except for about a half million people which are Vietnamese, almost all 14 million people are ethnic Cambodian. Vietnamese and Lao arrived in the territories that now form their national centers. There are about 68 different ethnic groups in Laos with the largest of the groups being Lao. They are linguistically and culturally related to the Thais and their religion along with Cambodia is Buddhism. Almost nine-tenths of Vietnamï¿½s people are ethnic Vietnamese. They are closely related to the Chinese in many cultural aspects, including language and shared religious elements of Confucianism, Buddhism, and ancestor veneration. Large Chinese minorities live in major countries in each of the three countries of Indochina. Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam remain poor.

Vietnam was catching up having a 2000 economy of $31 billion which was up four times since 1990. Cambodia and Laos had 2000 total GNIs of less than $4 billion each. The three countries of former French Indochina have experienced relatively little economic expansion. This area seems to have had almost continual warfare between 1941 and 1975, and fighting persisted until the late 1990s in Cambodia. Of these three countries, Vietnam is the most prosperous; however it is still among the worldï¿½s poorest countries. Conditions grew worse after the fall of the Soviet Union, Vietnamï¿½s main supporter and trading partner. Vietnam still has overcome these conditions though by following the Chinese model. However, Laos and Cambodia face more serious problems. In Cambodia, ravages of war exacerbated an already unstable situation, while Laos faces special difficulties owing to its rough terrain and relative isolation. Laos and Cambodia are also hampered by lack of infrastructure; outside the few cities, paved roads and reliable electricity are rarities. Economies of both remain largely agricultural in orientation.

The Laotian government is pinning its economic hopes on hydropower development. The country is mountainous and has many large rivers and could generate large quantities of electricity, which is in high demand in neighboring Thailand, if it can find funding for the necessary dams to build. Despite the lack of development, Cambodia and Laos are not as miserable as one might expect. Both countries have experienced an upsurge of economic activity in the early and mid 1990s. Although the three countries have lower GNI figures, few people are seriously malnourished. There have been a number of conflicts on the Indochina Peninsula and it seems when one country has a problem it drags one of the other two along with it. The French occupied Indochina during the 1800s and early 1900s. They had built roads and railroads and encouraged manufacturing. In the 1950s and 1960s, communists had advanced and overtook continental Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. In World War II, Nazi Germany occupied France and persuaded the French colonial government to allow Japanese forces to pass through Indochina.

After the war ended, the French tried to reestablish control of the area, but communist groups forced them to leave northern parts of Vietnam in 1954. During the Vietnam War, the Ho Chi Minh Trail was ill-defined network of forest passages through Laos and Cambodia, thus steadily drawing these two countries into the conflict. After several years, Vietnam invaded Cambodia and installed a communist regime. Also, Vietnam had stationed significant numbers of troops in Laos. The divided country, with a communist north and free-market south, was subject to further warfare. In 1975, North Vietnam was victorious over the United States and reunified the country. Laos went through much strife along its border with Vietnam, slowing economic development. Cambodia became independent in 1953, but suffered 30 years of civil war and invasions by Vietnamese. By the 1990s, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) switched from political to economic objectives and embraced its former ï¿½oppositionï¿½ of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam as new members. Demographic Analysis based on World Population Data Sheet 2007 Country * In millions.

Numbers projected are from 2007 Population Data Sheet ** Infant deaths per 1000. From 2007 Population Data Sheet Vietnam has by far the largest population than its two neighboring countries in Indochina. The three countries are not really stable as can be seen by the percent of persons aged less than 15 is greater than percent of persons aged over 65. Cambodia and Laos have higher natural rates of increase, but because they have such high infant mortality rates, Vietnam grows faster in terms of population than these two countries as can be seen by the projected populations. All three countries are fairly small in size and because of Vietnamï¿½s greater population it also has a high population density. As for the low GNI figures, these countries are not as miserable as one might expect. They all have experienced upsurges of economic activity and few people are seriously malnourished. Countries Cambodia has suffered the worst of the catastrophes. A communist insurgency overcame the American-backed military government in 1975. Known as Khmer Rouge and led by Pol Pot, this organization had ruled for four years with exceptional savagery.

In 1973, the population was about 7.5 million, but by 1979 it was down to only about 5 million. A third of their population had basically been murdered. Some of the intended victims managed to escape as refugees from Cambodiaï¿½s Killing Fields to adjoining Thailand. There were also escalating border conflicts with Vietnam, and in 1979, Vietnamese quickly conquered most of Cambodia and installed a puppet Communist government. The Khmer Rouge, supported by China, began guerilla resistance against Vietnamese. Peace negotiations among Cambodiaï¿½s contending factions led, in 1991, to an agreement resulting in the restoration of democratic government under United Nations (UN) supervision. Cambodia is very poor, but more stable conditions have helped the economy improve recently. Garment manufacturing is the largest industry, but there are fears that Cambodia will prove unable to compete with growing exports of cheaper clothing from China. Tourism is the fastest growing industry, with more than a million visitors arriving in 2004. Few visitors miss Angkor, Wat, still coveted by some in Thailand because it once stood within that countryï¿½s borders.

Cambodians resent Thai claims to the site which has led to riots in 2003. Even in this relatively peaceful time, the people of Cambodia must deal with a persistent scourge for war: landmines. Sown by hostile forces during years of warfare, the antipersonnel explosives remain active indefinitely. Mines have maimed more than 35,000 Cambodians, and about 50 more casualties occur each month. People sow new mines, imported mainly from China and Singapore, to protect their property in Cambodia. Laotians also suffer from ordnance dating to the Vietnam War. Between 1964 and 1973, U.S. warplanes dropped more than 2 million tons of bombs ï¿½ more than the United States dropped on Germany in World War II ï¿½ on the Laotian frontier with Vietnam in an effort to disrupt communist supply lines on nearby Ho Chi Minh Trail and to prevent communist troops from entering Laotian cities. This plain of Jars region retains the distinction of being the most heavily bombed place on Earth.

An estimated 30 percent of the bombs failed to detonate, and today, millions of unexploded American cluster bombs remain. About 200 people are killed or maimed yearly by these explosives. Of Laoï¿½s 17 provinces, 15 contain unexploded ordnance, according to the UN, creating a serious deterrent to farming in a country with inadequate food supplies. Efforts are underway to clear the explosives and hoping to de-mine enough land to produce ten thousand tons of rice yearly, which would feed fifty thousand people. Despite gambling revenues, landlocked Laos is now one of Asiaï¿½s least developed countries, ranking 135th of 177 countries. About 80 percent of its people are peasant farmers. Gold and copper mining, which began in 2002, may bring much needed revenue to Laos. Given the conditions of warfare, political turmoil, and inefficient economic systems, their outlook seems to be improving as tensions relax, supply of goods and services improves, and the number of returning refugees exceeds emigrants. Vietnam is now restoring its war-torn landscape through large-scale reforestation, agricultural reclamation, and nature conservation programs.

Vietnamï¿½s economy has improved markedly. Poverty fell by more than half in 1990s and again in 2004. Vietnam had Asiaï¿½s second fastest growing economy after China. They have become a major exporter of rice which is second in the world only to Thailand. Vietnam is also pinning hopes on exports of its proven reserves of six hundred million barrels of oil, especially to oil-hungry China. In addition to joining ASEAN, Vietnam in 1995 restored full diplomatic relations with the United States. They signed a trade agreement in 2000; Vietnam began exporting shoes, finished clothing, and toys to the U.S. References Bradshaw, Michael J. White, Dymond. (2004). Contemporary World Regional Geography: Southeast Asia and South Pacific. New York. McGraw-Hill. Gabler, Robert. (1993). Physical Geography. Brace College. Hobbes, Joseph. Salter, Christopher. (2006). Essentials of World Regional Geography: Southeast Asia: From Slash-and-Burn to Semi Conductors. California. Thomson Learning Inc. Rowntree.

(2000). Diversity Amid Globalization: Southeast Asia. New Jersey. Prentice Hall Inc. World population data sheet (2007). Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau. Review Questions 1. Which of the following countries has a Buddhist Religion? A. Cambodia; B. Laos; C. Vietnam; D. All of the Above 2. The country that was ruled by the Khmer Rouge after the Vietnam War and experienced a reign of terror and destruction including the death of a third of the population? A. Laos; B. Cambodia; C. Vietnam; D. Thailand 3. Which three Southeast Asian countries, collectively termed Indochina, were once occupied by the French? A. Thailand, Cambodia, Laos; B. Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam; C. Laos, Vietnam, China; D. Myanmar, Laos, Thailand 4. The largest Indochina country in population is? A. Vietnam; B. Laos; C. Cambodia; D. Thailand 5. What climate does Cambodia experience? A. Humid Subtropical; B. Tropical Rainy; C. Desert; D.

Tropical Savanna 6. Which of country has no coastline? A. Cambodia; B. Thailand; C. Laos; D. Vietnam 7. What form of development is Laos hoping for to improve their country? A. Paved Roads; B. Hydropower; C. Electricity; D. Running Water 8. What is the largest industry in Cambodia? A. Garment Manufacturing; B. Tourism; C. Gold Mining; D. None of the Above 9. What area retains the distinction of being the most heavily bombed place on Earth in an attempt to disrupt supply lines along the Ho Chi Minh Trail? A. Border between Cambodia and Vietnam; B. Border between Cambodia and Laos; C. Border between Laos and Vietnam; D. None of the Above 10. What is helping Laos bring in much needed revenue? A. Gold Mining; B. Silver Mining; C. Copper Mining; D. Both A and C 11. Which country has the worldï¿½s second fastest growing economy? A. Cambodia; B. Laos; C. China; D. Vietnam 12. Which country is the worldï¿½s second most exporter of rice?

A. Vietnam; B. Thailand; C. Laos; D. China 13. Which country has the largest infant mortality rate? A. Cambodia; B. Laos; C. Vietnam; 14. Which country is the most prosperous? A. Cambodia; B. Laos; C. Vietnam 15. Which country has a population growth of 1.7 percent? A. Cambodia; B. Laos; C. Vietnam First submitted by Jason Jurey on Mar 8,1996. Then by Rachel Schuette on Nov 8,1996. Updated by Alena Kaplun on Apr 8,1997. Updated by Robert Distefano on 11-20-98. Updated by Stephen Kingston on April Fools Day, 2001. Edited by Karen Oyler on 10. Oct.ï¿½03. Updated by Hisa Shimizu and Britney Wesson on Apr 8, 2007. Resubmitted by Keith Janssen on April 30, 2008.

Cambodia - Languages | Ethnologue Ethnologue Feedback Brao [brb] Ratanak Kiri province: Ta Veaeng district, north of Sesan river. 9,030 in Cambodia (2009 UNSD). About 2,000 of the Brao counted in the census are Brao Tanap, which is actually more similar to Krung [krr]. 4,520 monolinguals. Ethnic population: 9,030. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Braou, Brou, Lave, Laveh, Love, Proue. Dialects: Ombaa, Ka-nying, Hamong, Jrii, Lun. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, West Bahnaric, Brao-Kravet. Comments: Krung [krr] , Brao [brb] , Kavet [krv] , and Lun dialect [brb] form a mutually-intelligible cluster. At times, Brao may be used as a cover term for all groups. Traditional religion, Christian.

More Information Cham, Western [cja] Scattered, nearly half of the Cham in Cambodia live in Kampong Cham and Tbong Khmum provinces, where they are about 6% of the total population. Cham also live dispersed through all other provinces especially Kampong Chhnang and Kratié provinces. 204,000 in Cambodia (2009 UNSD). No monolinguals. Ethnic population: 400,000. Total users in all countries: 246,990. Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Cambodian Cham, Cham, New Cham, Tjam. Dialects: None known. Cannot communicate with Eastern Cham [cjm] of central Viet Nam. Lexical similarity: 84% with Eastern Cham [cjm] of Viet Nam (Pawley and Pawley 2010), 69% with Jarai [jra] of northeast Cambodia. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Chamic, Coastal, Cham.

Comments: Small ethnic groups from Cambodia settled in Thailand but no longer speak Cham (Bradley 2007a). Muslim. More Information Chinese, Hakka [hak] Ratanak Kiri and Stung Treng provinces: border areas, 2 enclaves along Sesan river. 500 in Cambodia (2011 SIL). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese. Comments: Non-indigenous. More Information French [fra] 870 in Cambodia (2009 UNSD). L2 users: 403,000 in Cambodia (2013). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French. Comments: Non-indigenous. More Information Jarai [jra] Ratanak Kiri province: principally Andoung Meas, Bar Kaev, and Ou Ya Dav districts; northeast border near Viet Nam. 20,800 in Cambodia (2009 UNSD).

Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Chor, Cho-Rai, Chrai, Djarai, Gia-Rai, Gio-Rai, Jorai, Mthur. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Chamic, Highlands. Comments: Traditional religion, Christian. More Information Kaco’ [xkk] Ratanak Kiri province: Andoung Meas and Veun Sai districts, along Sesan river downstream from Phumi Ba Kham. 3,370 (2007). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Kachah’, Kachok. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, North Bahnaric. More Information Kavet [krv] Ratanak Kiri province: Virochey area north of San river; Stung Treng province: Siempang east of Kang river. 6,220 (2009 UNSD). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Khvek, Kowet, Kravet.

Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, West Bahnaric, Brao-Kravet. More Information Khmer, Central [khm] Widespread. 12,900,000 in Cambodia (2009 UNSD). L2 users: 1,000,000 in Cambodia. Total users in all countries: 15,291,040 (as L1: 14,291,040; as L2: 1,000,000). Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (1993, Constitution, Article 5). Alternate Names: Cambodian, Khmer. Dialects: Khmer Kandal (Central), Khmer Krom (Southern), Battambang Khmer, Khmer Keh (Stung Treng), Cardamom Khmer. Distinct from Northern Khmer [kxm] of Thailand. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Khmer.

More Information Kraol [rka] Kratié province: Sambour district, Srae Chis commune; Mondul Kiri province: Kaoh Nheaek district, Roya commune. 4,200 (2009 UNSD). 4,200 monolinguals. Status: 6b (Threatened). Dialects: None known. Not intelligible to speakers of Central Mnong [cmo] . Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, South Bahnaric, Sre-Mnong, Mnong, Southern-Central Mnong. Comments: Different from Kraol dialect of Kuy [kdt] . More Information Kru’ng 2 [krr] Ratanak Kiri province: Laos border area, mainly between Sesan and Sprepok rivers; Stung Treng province: southeast corner. 20,700 (2009 UNSD). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Brao Krung, Kreung. Dialects: Brao Tanap, Lun.

Brao [brb] and Kavet [krv] are reportedly inherently intelligible with Kru’ng 2. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, West Bahnaric, Brao-Kravet. Comments: Different from Krung 1 dialect of Rade [rad] in Viet Nam. More Information Kuy [kdt] Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear provinces: Sen river area; Kratié province: isolated area east of Kratié city on Mekong river; Stung Treng province: west of Mekong river. 10,000 in Cambodia. Ethnic population: 37,700 (2007 E. Pawley). Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Kuay, Kui. Dialects: Kuy Antra, Kuy Anthua, Kuy May (Kuy Ma’ay), Kuy Mlor, Kuy Ak. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Katuic, West Katuic, Kuay-Nheu.

Comments: Central Khmer used in schools. Dialects are based on the use of their word for ‘what’: Kuy Antra (northern Kompong Thom, southern Preah Vihear), Kuy Anthua (central Preah Vihear), Kuy May or Ma’ay (in Kratie), Kuy Mlor (1 village in northern Preah Vihear); only the older people still speak the last 2 dialects. Traditional religion. More Information Lao [lao] Banteay Meanchey province: 3 enclaves between Thai border and Sisophon city; Prey Veng province; Stung Treng province: between Laos border and Kong river; Svay Rieng province. 18,500 in Cambodia (2009 UNSD). Status: 6b (Threatened). Classification: Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern.

More Information Lao Phuon [phu] Banteay Meanchey province: Mongkol Borei district, Boung Preang, Kok Thnong, Pong Ror, Pouy Ta Sek, Prey To Teang, Rohat Teak, Sdey Kraom, Sdey Leu, Sranal, and Ta Sal villages. 1,000 in Cambodia (Kev and Ly 2009). Ethnic population: 2,000 (Kev and Ly 2009). Status: 6b (Threatened). Classification: Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern. Comments: Non-indigenous. More Information Mnong, Central [cmo] Kratié province: northeast and central; Mondul Kiri province. 37,500 in Cambodia (2009 UNSD). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Budong, Bunong, Phanong, Phnong, Phong. Dialects: Biat, Preh, Bu Nar, Bu Rung, Dih Bri, Bu Dang.

Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, South Bahnaric, Sre-Mnong, Mnong, Southern-Central Mnong. Comments: Biat is main dialect. More Information Pear [pcb] Preah Vihear province: Rovieng district, 3–4 villages. 1,670 (2011). Ethnic population: 1,830 (2008 census). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Por. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Eastern. More Information Samre [sxm] Siemreap province: Siemreap town area north of Lake Sap. No known L1 speakers. Ethnic population: 200 (2000 D. Bradley). Status: 9 (Dormant). Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Samre.

More Information Sa’och [scq] Sihanoukville province: near Kampong Saom bay, east coast, but inland. 10 (2009 J. Filipi), decreasing. Ethnic population: 450. Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Saotch, Sauch. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Chong. More Information Somray [smu] Battambang province: Phumi Chhak Rokar area; Koh Kong province: far north; Pursuit province: 2 areas, north, east, and west of Phum Tasanh, and Tanyong river around Phum Pra Moi. 4,100 (2005 J. Ironside). Status: 8a (Moribund). Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Samre. More Information Stieng, Bulo [sti] Kratié province: Snuol district; possibly southern Mondul Kiri province.

6,540 in Cambodia (2009 UNSD). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Kajiang. Dialects: Budip, Bulo. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, South Bahnaric, Stieng-Chrau. More Information Suoy [syo] Kampong Speu and Pursuit provinces: Phumi Krang Trachak area. 860 (Bradley 2007b), decreasing. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: Su’ung. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Suoy. More Information Tampuan [tpu] Ratanak Kiri province: Sesan river area south to Srepok river. 31,000 (2009 UNSD). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Campuon, Kha Tampuon, Proon, Proons, Tamphuan, Tampuen, Tampuon.

Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, Central Bahnaric. Comments: Exogamous clans, together with Kaco’ and Jarai, override ethnic and linguistic boundaries. More Information Thai [tha] Banteay Meanchey province: between Sisophon and Paoy Pet on Thai border (Thai Norkor Raja); Koh Kong province: west of Meleuk river (Thai Koh Kong). 2,460 in Cambodia (2009 UNSD). Status: 5 (Dispersed). Dialects: Thai Koh Kong, Thai Norkor Raja (Siam Nokor, Siam Trang). Classification: Tai-Kadai, Kam-Tai, Tai, Southwestern. More Information Vietnamese [vie] Phnom Penh; generally dispersed longstanding population; communities in urban areas, including Siemreab, Preah Sihanouk, Ta Khmau, others. 72,800 in Cambodia (2009 UNSD). Status: 5 (Dispersed). Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Viet-Muong, Vietnamese.

Comments: Non-indigenous.

Question: In what country is Khmer the primary language?
Answer: Cambodia