Mon-Khmer
(ˈməʊnk(ə)mɛə(r))
[f. Mon n.2 and a. + Khmer n. and a.]
The designation of a group of Indo-Chinese languages, of which the most important are Mon and Khmer, spoken in south-east Asia and considered by some philologists to belong to the Austroasian family. Also attrib., with reference to the peoples who speak these languages.
| 1887 Trans. Philol. Soc. 1885–86 428 The..Indo-Chinese division and its two branches Mōn-Khmer, and Taï-Shan. Ibid. 435 The numerals and many words belong to the Mōn-Khmer family. 1904 G. A. Grierson Linguistic Survey of India II. 1 The Mōn-Khmēr languages are monosyllabic. 1932 [see Khmer n. and a.]. 1933 [see Austric a.]. 1936 [see Austro-2]. 1964 S. Wavell Naga King's Daughter ii. 36 The Semelairs, whose unique language is Mon-Khmer, had lived on the lake as long as they could remember. |