| Cambodian English | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Cambodia |
| Region | Southeast Asia |
Native speakers | Variable, primarily educated Cambodians and English language learners |
Early forms | |
| Latin (English alphabet) Unified English Braille | |
| Official status | |
Official language in |  Cambodia |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | en-KH (unofficial) |
| Glottolog | None |
Cambodian English is aWorld English variety spoken in Cambodia. It is used by the media, educated Cambodians, and English language learners.
English was introduced to Cambodia in the 1990s through the presence of theUnited Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).[1] Its usage expanded significantly following Cambodia's 1999 accession to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).[2] In the mid-2000s, Cambodian scholars such as Keuk Chan Narith and Kao Sophal began to formally identify and analyze the distinct features of Cambodian English.[1]
Initially considered "unintelligible," its intelligibility has improved due to the growth of international school education, particularly among younger generations.[1] Cambodian scholars Chan Hum and Kimkong Heng have observed an increase in children attending international schools in urban areas.[3]
The rapid growth of globalization and technological advancements has further accelerated its adoption, particularly for hand-held devices and social networking.[3] While aKhmer script exists for digital devices, there is a tendency to use audio messages in Khmer rather than typed messages.[4]
Cambodian English exhibits distinctphonological andmorphosyntactic features, influenced by theKhmer language.
These features were identified by Stephen Moore and Suksiri Bounchan.[1]
Transitional Cambodian English (TCE) is a possible emerging standard variation, primarily observed among university students. It is characterized by a blend of American and British English with minimal Khmer linguistic influence, and it was first identified by American scholar Joshua Wilwohl.[5]
A colloquial, non-standard variation, "KhmEnglish", has also been identified.[citation needed]
English is increasingly used across various domains in Cambodia, including education, business, tourism, technology, and media, leading some scholars to describe it as a "language of transformation."[3] However, the growing prevalence of English raises concerns about potential impacts on Khmer language proficiency and cultural identity.[3]