SOCIOLINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF CHAM LANGUAGE AND SCRIPT: USAGE, ATTITUDES, AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE CHAM PEOPLE

Abstract

This paper examines the sociolinguistic dynamics of language and script usage among the Cham people in Vietnam, focusing on their attitudes and
aspirations concerning the preservation of their ethnic language and script. The study reveals a high degree of bilingualism (Cham-Vietnamese) within the Cham
community, with most members proficient in both their mother tongue and Vietnamese for daily communication. However, due to the increasing number of
Cham families who choose to speak only Vietnamese with their children, the Cham language may face decline in the near future without timely intervention.
Without timely intervention, this trend could significantly impact the vitality of the Cham language in the near future. Furthermore, the effectiveness of teaching
the Cham language is constrained by the coexistence of multiple scripts. A unified writing system is urgently needed to address this challenge, as the current
situation exemplifies a "writing conflict" similar to that experienced by other ethnic minorities in Vietnam with multiple scripts, such as the Hmong, Co Tu,
Raglai, and Thai communities. The discussion section of this paper provides a foundation for the Vietnamese government to implement measures aimed at
improving the use and teaching of the Cham language and script. Such efforts would not only preserve the cultural heritage of the Cham people but also
contribute to the broader goals of sustainable development in Vietnam.