Cham, Eastern

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A language of Viet Nam

ISO 639-3
cjm
Alternate Names
Bhamam, Chiem, Chiem Thành, Tjam
User Population

132,000 (2019 census), based on ethnicity. All Cham: 178,948 (2019 census) but as many as 250,000 ({Bradley 2007a}).

Location

Binh Thuan, Dong Nai, and Ninh Thuan provinces: Ho Chi Minh city.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b* (Threatened). Language of recognized ethnic group: Cham.

Classification
Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Malayo-Chamic, Chamic, Coastal, Cham
Language Use

Also use Vietnamese [vie] (Bradley 2007a).

Language Development

Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 60%. Radio. Grammar. Texts. Bible portions: 1973.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Cham, Eastern
Writing

Arabic script, Naskh variant [Arab]. Cham script [Cham], primary usage. Latin script [Latn].

Other Comments

Official Cham ethnic group also includes Western Cham [cja] and Haroi [hro]. Remnants of a once-powerful kingdom. Austro-Asiatic influences. Traditional religion, Christian, Hindu.