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Expert: Khmer Language
Butchered by Cambodia Media
The
Khmer-language media, particularly newspapers and magazines, use
grammatically incorrect sentences by applying spoken words to
writing, a linguistic expert told attendees at a workshop last week
on Khmer language in the media.
The errors stem from forgetting the meaning of Khmer words, and a
lack of expertise on expressing ideas in a written form, said Khin
Sok, professor of Southeast Asia Linguistic and Civilization
Institute in Paris.
"If our Khmer linguistics is in a disorderly situation, within
the next 10 years, our children will not understand it, " Khin
Sok said.
Like many aspects of Cambodian society, Khmer language was attacked
during the Khmer Rouge regime, with words being changed or
abolished.
Sam Rainy Party Senator Thach Setha said he could not understand
some stories in newspapers because they use grammatically incorrect
sentences.
khieu Navy, deputy editor-in-chief of the leading Khmer-language
newspaper Rasmei kam puchea (Light of Cambodia) acknowledge that his
publication sometimes uses incorrect phrases and sentences.
"I willingly accept this constructive criticism, and we will
try hard to write grammatically correct stories, "said Khieu
Navy, who added that journalists are not trained enough in writing.
Government officials recommend that ministries should work on
improving Khmer to prevent the misuse of the language.
By Van
Roeun |
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