|
Most Cambodians speak Khmer, the official language. It is
used for government documents and taught in schools. The Khmer language is read
from left to right, like English. It is a phonetic language. Unlike English,
however, the Khmer language has no separation between words. The Khmer writing
system is based on an Indian alphabet that was brought into the area many
centuries ago.
Some Khmer words come from nearby countries such as China,
Malaysia and Thailand. French words are also part of Khmer. The French colonized
Cambodia in 1862 and remained in control of the country for a century. |
|
|
People educated before independence in 1953 were educated in
French. Many older people who were educated at that time still speak French. Small
communities of Chinese and Vietnamese speak their own languages.
Today English is gaining in popularity. Many people are learning
English at informal schools set up on the sidewalks in Phnom Penh. Cambodians usually
greet each other by pressing their hands together in front of their bodies and bowing.
Some people have replaced this greeting with a handshake. |
|
Did you know? |
| |
The number of words in the Khmer vocabulary is huge.
For example, there are many different ways to say "eat rice." |
| |