Sociolinguistic Survey of Jarai in Ratanakiri, Cambodia

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Issue Date: 
2013-10-15
Date Created: 
2007 to 2010
Extent: 
69 pages
Abstract: 
This paper presents the report of a sociolinguistic survey of the Jarai variety spoken in Ratanakiri province, Cambodia. Jarai is one of the major “Montagnard” groups of the Vietnamese southern highlands. While Jarai numbers in Cambodia are much smaller, it is still one of the largest highland minority groups. This paper investigates the dialects used among the Jarai speakers in Ratanakiri province, their abilities in Khmer, and their attitudes towards language development. The data indicates that a minority of Jarai can speak some Khmer, but very few can read or write in either Khmer or Jarai. Nearly everyone interviewed expressed interest in learning to read and write Jarai. While many prefer the Roman script used by Jarai in Vietnam over the creation of a new Khmer-based script, most said that they would still be interested in learning a new script if it were made. There are only minor dialect differences between Jarai in Cambodia, but much greater differences with some varieties of Jarai spoken in Vietnam.
Publication Status: 
Draft (posted 'as is' without peer review)
Table of Contents: 
1 Introduction 1 -- 2 Research purpose and questions -- 3 Methodology -- 4 Results -- 5 Conclusions -- 6 Recommendations -- 7 References -- 8 Appendixes
Country: 
Cambodia
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Entry Number: 
54935