The Setting Katatagan ng Wika gamit ang Nine Factors in Language Vitality

53 Map 4: Cambodia and Surrounding Countries The total population of Ratanakiri is 111,403. The indigenous ethnic minorities comprise more than 80 of the population of this remote province: Tampuan 25.23, Jarai 20.57, Kreung 19.89, Brao 8.74, Kachok 3.75, Kavet 3.65, Bunong 0.24, and Lun 0.20. About 13 percent of the population is Khmer. The Kachok number about 3,365 [Table 11 - taken from the village chiefs vc and commune chiefs cc] and live in nine 9 villages in the district of Andoung Meas and one village in Veun Sai district. The language, culture, 54 and livelihood systems of these ethnic minorities are significantly different from those of the lowland people Mac Andrew, 2001. Table 11: Population of Kachok People taken from the VC and CC during a background research, 2006 Village of individuals children and adults Commune District 1.Upper Kachut កជូ េ ើ 379 Nhang ញ៉ង Andoung Meas អណូងមស 2.Lower Kachut កជូ េរក 192 Nhang ញ៉ង Andoung Meas អណូងមស 3. Nay 306 Nhang ញ៉ង Andoung Meas អណូងមស 4. In អន 308 Talao វ Andoung Meas អណូងមស 5. Big Kanat ក ំ 519 Talao វ Andoung Meas អណូងមស 6. Small Kanat ក ូ 132 Talao វ Andoung Meas អណូងមស 7. Kak ក 285 Talao វ Andoung Meas អណូងមស 8. Tanong នង 229 Talao វ Andoung Meas អណូងមស 9. Talao វ 7 Talao វ Andoung Meas អណូងមស 10. Kaoh Peak េក ពក់ 1,008 Kaoh Peak េក ពក់ Veun Sai វីនែស Total 3,365 Note: Talao has not been surveyed as only 7 Kachok people live there. 55 The province consists of nine districts: Andoung Meas, Barkeo, Ta Veang, O Chum, Lum Phat, Kon Mum, Banlung, Ou Yadao, and Veun Sai Map 5. The Kachok people dwell in nine 9 villages, eight of which are in Andoung Meas district, along with one village in Veun Sai district Ministry of Interior, Royal Government of Cambodia, 2006. Map 5: Districts of Ratanakiri Malik Mai Hie Ta Lav Kachanh Labansiek Yeak Laom Kak Ke Chong Laminh Lung Khung Saeung Ting Chak Serei Mongkol Srae Angkrong Ta Ang Toen Trapeang Chres Trapeang Kraham Chey Otdam Ka Laeng La Bang Muoy La Bang Pir Ba Tang Cha Ung Pouy Aekakpheap Kalai Ou Chum Sameakki Lak m um Choar Pak Nhai Pate esant Saom Thum Ya Tung Ta Veaeng Leu Ta Veaeng Kraom Pong Hat Pak Ka Choun Kaoh Pang Kaoh Peak Kok Lak Pak Kalan Phnum Kok Veun Sai Andoung Meas Ban Lung Bar Kaev Koun Mom Lumphat Ou Ya Dav Ta Veaeng Veun Sai Kachok 56 Andoung Meas is composed of three communes: Malik, Nhang, and Talao, with the Kachok villages located in the following three villages in Nhang commune: Upper Kachut, Lower Kachut, and Nay. There are six 6 Kachok villages in Talao commune: Big Kanat, Small Kanat, In, Tanong, Kak, and Talao. The village of Kaoh Peak can be found in Kaoh Peak commune, Veun Sai district. Small Kanat is the village closest to the provincial capital of Banlung lying northeast of about two hours away in dry season. It is accessible by car or motorbike. Villages located on the further bank of the Sesan River can be reached by boat and then by foot, or by ferrying a motorbike across the river. The Sesan and Srepok rivers flowing from Vietnam cross the territory from east to west and join the Sekong River, a tributary of the Mekong River - one of the longest rivers in the world. The Mekong River connects Stung Treng to the southern provinces of Cambodia and in the north to Laos Mac Andrew, 2001. This river connection plays a strategic role in communications and trade. This river is also one option of traveling by boat to the neighboring villages of Ou Yadao, Andoung Meas, Ta Veang, and Veun Sai districts. During the rainy season June to October travel to remote villages is more difficult, as roads are not passable by car or motorbike. During November to February the weather is relatively cooler. Hot season is from March to April. The temperature in Ratanakiri ranges from 20 degrees to 35 degrees Celsius. The National Center for Malaria categorizes the region as a serious malaria zone. Health services to the villagers remain problematic. 57

3.2.1 Religion and Belief System of the Kachok

Most Kachok people practice a traditional religion that spiritually influences their lives and agricultural practices. They practice many rituals and taboos during various ceremonies. During some week-long village sacrifice ceremonies, entrance to the village is prohibited, and those present in the village are forbidden to leave once the ceremony has begun. One should respect this traditional belief and behave accordingly; otherwise, they will be fined - to pay money or an animal. A tree branch hanging in front of the village entrance or house is a sign for not entering or leaving the village. In case of village epidemics, the Kachok people construct icons designed to frighten away the spirits whom they believe to inflict sickness Health Unlimited, 1995.

3.2.2 History

Ratanakiris indigenous groups live autonomously due to the provinces physical isolation from Phnom Penh. During a trip to Kaoh Peak village in November 2006, the commune chief reported that the Kachok in the area lived isolated and far away from the eight Kachok villages in Andoung Meas. The people in eight Kachok villages live separately in one district, except in the village of In which used to be a part of Kaoh Peak in Veun Sai. At some point in the recent past, the Kachok came from the same place and later had a war or sharp dispute, causing some to separate and form their own village. 58 The village chief in the village of In mentioned that the Lamam is the same with Romam who used to be the Kachok people. They lived in the border of Vietnam. Some Kachok people in In, Kak, Upper Kachut, and Tanong villages validated this report. One Kachok in In village mentioned that he once visited his Lamam relative in the Vietnam border. There is a need to validate if the Lamam still exists. The Kachok are a relatively small group, and little has been researched on their language or culture. The rest of their history or their origin is unknown to outsiders.

3.3 Site Selection

Kachok people live in nine 9 villages in two districts of Ratanakiri province. Eight villages are in Andoung Meas district: Lower Kachut, Upper Kachut, Nay, In, Tanong, Kak, Talao, Big Kanat, and Small Kanat. In Veun Sai district, the Kachok people are located in Kaoh Peak village. The Dialect Perceptions Group Interview was conducted in the 9 villages Map 6 while the Village Leader Questionnaire was administered in 7 of the villages; Upper Kachut and Lower Kachut villages share just one village chief, as do the villages of Big Kanat and Small Kanat. The School Teacher Interview was conducted in all villages that have a school. The Individual Sociolinguistic Questionnaire was administered in just four villages chosen because they are not mixed with other ethnic groups, having larger populations than other Kachok villages, located far from each other, and reportedly having distinct accents. Talao village has not been visited, since the majority of the villagers are Lao, and 59 only seven Kachok people live there. Lao is the common language used in this village. Map 6: Kachok Villages in Ratanakiri