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The kingdom of Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country that is home to more than
fifteen million people. The capital of the country is Phnom Penh. The country
shares its borders with Thailand in the north and northwest, Laos in its northeast
and Vietnam in its east and southeast. The Gulf of Thailand lies in the southern
side of Cambodia. Cambodia has caught every ones' imagination and has lately become
one of the most sought after tourist destinations. Come to Cambodia and be prepared
to be intrigued by the myriad mesmerizing motifs of the country. The multifarious
facets of the country are evident in the Language of Cambodia itself.
Language of Cambodia
The official language of Cambodia is Cambodian, or Khmer. This language belongs
to Mon-Khmer or Austro-Asiatic language family of language. The language of
Cambodia is not as easy to pick up as other languages might be and westerners
might find it a little difficult to follow.
The Mon-Khmer languages are the autochthonous language family of Indo-China.
Together with the Munda languages of India, they are one of the two traditional
primary branches of the Austro-Asiatic language family. The Eastern Mon Khmer
languages include languages like:-
- Khmer in Cambodia, southern Vietnam, and northeastern Thailand
- Pearic in southern Cambodia
- Bahnaric in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos
- Katuic in central Laos
- Vietic in Vietnam
Another important spoken language in Cambodia is French. Your Cambodia Overview
will make clear that French has been and still is to some extent the lingua
franca of Indochina. The language is still by spoken by some, mostly older Cambodians
as a second language. The French language is also the means of instruction in
various schools and universities. There are many such educational institutions
that are funded by the government of France.
Cambodian French is virtually another language of Cambodia. This dialect is
a reflection of the country's colonial past and is still frequently used in
the government.
Another Cambodia Language that is slowly finding prevalence is English. Many
younger Cambodians and those in the business class speak the language these
days. Thus the prevalence of English as a language of Cambodia should not pose
too big a problem for tourists in Cambodia.
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