Thai Surin/Nothern Khmer In Cambodia

[bubba1]

will a speaker of Northern Khmer as spoken in Buriram, Surin, Sisaket be able to communicate in Cambodia?

[Peppy]

According to the Wikipedia page for the Khmer language ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_language ), all the main dialects, including Northern Khmer, are mutually intelligible; however, the page for Northern Khmer ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Khmer ) states that:

Northern Khmer differs from the Phnom Penh dialect (considered the standard) in the number and variety of vowel phonemes, consonantal distribution, lexicon and grammar, giving Northern Khmer a distinct accent easily recognizable by speakers of other dialects. Some speakers of Northern Khmer may understand other varieties of Khmer but speakers of standard Khmer who have not been exposed to Northern Khmer often have trouble understanding Northern Khmer. These facts have led some linguists to advocate considering Northern Khmer a separate, but closely related language.

But I'd imagine that speakers of Northern Khmer would still be able to pick up on the Phnom Penh dialect and be able to make themselves understood fairly quickly if they were to spend any length of time in Cambodia.

[bubba1]

^ i know how to use google and wiki

[dirk28]

^ i know how to use google and wiki

My fiance is from Khun Han, Sisaket and she went with me for a visa run to tthe Cambodian border, and she couldn't understand them. I think there is thai khmer and cambodian khmer and alot sub-dialogues. I'm no expert, just my obversation.