Chamic

Chamic refers to a branch of the Austronesian language family spoken by the Cham people of Southeast Asia. The largest concentrations are in Vietnam (central and southern coastal regions) and in Cambodia, with smaller communities in Thailand and Malaysia and among overseas Cham diaspora. The Chamic group is traditionally divided into Western Chamic (including the Cham language) and Eastern Chamic varieties; some linguists prefer broader classifications, but all are considered part of the Chamic branch within Malayo-Polynesian.

Linguistically, Chamic languages share core Austronesian features and show significant contact-induced influence from Vietnamese and Khmer. This has produced loanwords and some phonological and syntactic adaptations. Most varieties are endangered to some degree, with language endangerment driven by assimilation into dominant national languages, particularly Vietnamese in Vietnam and Khmer in Cambodia. The Cham language (Chăm) is the most widely spoken Chamic variety, and it has its own traditional writing system, Cham script, derived from a Pallava-derived Indic script. In modern times Cham and other Chamic varieties are also written with Latin scripts and, in Cambodia, sometimes Khmer script.

The Cham people trace roots to the ancient Champa kingdom that flourished along the central coast of Vietnam. The term "Chamic" thus reflects both linguistic affiliation and historical ties.