Jarai language
Jarai (/dʒəˈraɪ/; Vietnamese: Cho-Rai, Chor, Chrai, Djarai, Gia-Rai, Gio-Rai, Jorai or Mthur; Khmer: ចារ៉ាយ, Charay [caːraːj]) is a Malayo-Polynesian language spoken by the Jarai people of Vietnam and Cambodia. The speakers of Jarai number approximately 530,000, not including other possible Jarai communities in countries other than Vietnam and Cambodia such as United States of America. They are the largest of the upland ethnic groups of Vietnam's Central Highlands known as Degar or Montagnards, and 25 per cent of the population in the Cambodian province of Ratanakiri.
| Jarai | |
|---|---|
| Jrai | |
| Native to | Vietnam, Cambodia |
| Region | Central Highlands, Vietnam Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia |
Native speakers | 530,000 (2019) |
Austronesian
| |
| Vietnam: modified Vietnamese alphabet Cambodia: modified Khmer alphabet | |
| Official status | |
Recognised minority language in | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | jra |
| Glottolog | jara1266 |
The language is in the Chamic subgroup of the Malayo-Polynesian languages, and is thus related to the Cham language of central Vietnam.
A number of Jarai also live in the United States, having resettled there following the Vietnam War.