Languages of Cambodia

State of Cambodia. Formerly Kampuchea, Khmer Republic. National or official language: Central Khmer. 10,716,000 (1998 UN). 6,467,000 or 94.3% speakers of Austro-Asiatic languages, 125,000 or 1.9% speakers of Austronesian languages (1990). Literacy rate 48% to 50%. Also includes Mandarin Chinese 340,000, Lao 17,000, Vietnamese 600,000. Information mainly from F. Lebar, G. Hickey, J. Musgrave 1964; D. Thomas and R. Headley 1970; S. Wurm and S. Hattori 1981. Theravada Buddhist, secular, traditional religion, Muslim. Blind population 40,000 (1982 WCE). Deaf population 622,366. Data accuracy estimate: B,C. The number of languages listed for Cambodia is 19. Of those, all are living languages. Diversity index 0.31.

Spoken living languages

BRAO

[BRB] 5,286 in Cambodia (1980 Diffloth). Northeastern Cambodia on the Laos border, Rattanakiri Province. Alternate names: BRAOU, PROUE, BROU, LOVE, LAVE, LAVEH. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, West Bahnaric, Brao-Kravet.
 

CHAM, WESTERN

[CJA] 220,000 in Cambodia (1992 govt. figure). Population total all countries 253,100 or more. Alternate names: CAMBODIAN CHAM, TJAM, CHAM, NEW CHAM. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Achinese-Chamic, Chamic, South, Coastal, Cham-Chru.
 

CHONG

[COG] 5,000 possibly in Cambodia. Population total both countries 8,000 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Alternate names: CHAWNG, SHONG, XONG. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Chong.
 

JARAI

[JRA] 15,000 or more (1998). Ratankiri Province, principally the districts of Bokeo, Andons, Meas, O Yadou, along northeast border near Viet Nam. Alternate names: DJARAI, GIA-RAI, JORAI, CHO-RAI, CHOR, MTHUR, CHRAI, GIO-RAI. Dialects: PUAN, HODRUNG (HDRUNG), JHUE, ARÁP, HABAU (HO-BAU), TO-BUAN, SESAN, CHUTY, PLEIKLY, GOLAR. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Western Malayo-Polynesian, Sundic, Malayic, Achinese-Chamic, Chamic, South, Plateau.
 

KACO'

[XKK] 2,000 (1992 G. Diffloth). Rattanakiri Province. Alternate names: KACHAH'. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, Central Bahnaric.
 

KHMER, CENTRAL

[KMR] 5,932,800 in Cambodia, about 90% of the population (1990). Population total all countries 7,039,200. Including second language speakers: 8,000,000 (1999 WA). Alternate names: KHMER, CAMBODIAN. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Khmer.
 

KRAOL

[RKA] 2,600 (1992 G. Diffloth). Kratie Province. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, South Bahnaric, Sre-Mnong, Mnong, Southern-Central Mnong.
 

KRAVET

[KRV] 3,012 (1988 govt. figure). Northeastern. Alternate names: KOWET, KHVEK, KAVET. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, West Bahnaric, Brao-Kravet.
 

KRU'NG 2

[KRR] 9,368 (1982 G. Diffloth). Northeastern, Rattanakiri Province and eastern Stung Treng. Alternate names: KRUENG. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, West Bahnaric, Brao-Kravet.
 

KUY

[KDT] 15,495 or more in Cambodia (1989). Northeastern Cambodia, all districts of Preah Vihear, eastern Siem Reap, northern Kampong Thom, western Stung Traeng, and several areas of Kratie Province. Alternate names: KUAY. Dialects: DAMREY, ANLOUR, O, KRAOL, ANTRA, NA NHYANG. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Katuic, West Katuic, Kuay-Yoe.
 

LAMAM

[LMM] 1,000 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Near northeast corner on the Viet Nam border. Alternate names: LMAM. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, Central Bahnaric.
 

MNONG, CENTRAL

[MNC] 19,000 in Cambodia (1988 govt. figure). Northeastern, 80% of Mondolkiri Province, all districts. Alternate names: PHONG, PHNONG, BUDONG, PHANONG. 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.
 

PEAR

[PCB] 1,300 (1988 govt. figure). Southwestern, Kompong Thom. Alternate names: POR, KOMPONG THOM. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Eastern.
 

SA'OCH

[SCQ] 500 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Southwest near Kompong Som on the coast. Alternate names: SAUCH, SAOTCH. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Chong.
 

SAMRE

[SCC] 200 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Just north of Siemreap. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Samre.
 

SOMRAY

[SMU] 2,000 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). West; north, east, and west of Phum Tasanh, and Tanyong River around Phum Pra Moi; 2 areas. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Samre.
 

STIENG, BULO

[STI] 3,571 to 5,000 in Cambodia (1992 G. Diffloth). Eastern, Kratie Province, Snuol District, and southern Mondolkiri. Alternate names: KAJIANG. Dialects: BUDIP, BULACH, BULO. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, South Bahnaric, Stieng-Chrau.
 

SUOY

[SYO] 200 (1981 Wurm and Hattori). Central, northwest of Phnom Penh. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Pearic, Western, Suoy.
 

TAMPUAN

[TPU] 25,000 (1998). Northeast border area, south of Brao, west of Jarai, Central Rattanakiri Province. Alternate names: TAMPHUAN, TAMPUEN, TAMPUON, KHA TAMPUON, CAMPUON, PROON, PROONS. Classification: Austro-Asiatic, Mon-Khmer, Eastern Mon-Khmer, Bahnaric, Central Bahnaric.
 

 

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