Learn Khmer English

Preface to the Third Edition (Revised) 

Preface to the Third Edition (Revised) This dictionary is the work of many teachers and some students in the Biology department of The Royal University of Phnom Penh. It has developed over the last three years in response to the need of Biology students to learn Biology from English text books. We have also tried to anticipate the future needs of Biology students and teachers in Cambodia. If they want to join the global scientific community; read scientific journals, listen to international media, attend international conferences or study outside Cambodia, then they will probably need to communicate in English. Therefore, the main aim of this book is to help Cambodian students and teachers at the university level to understand Biology in English. All languages evolve. In the past the main influence on Khmer language was French. Nowadays, it is increasingly English. Some technical terms have already been absorbed from French and have become Khmer. Nowadays new technical terms are usually created in English and are used around the world. Language is also created by those who use it and only exists when it is used. Therefore, common usage has also influenced our translation. We have tried to respond to these various influences when preparing this dictionary, so that it represents many different opinions - old and new, Francophile, Anglophile and Khmer. But there will always be some disagreement about the translation of some terms. This is normal and occurs in all languages. It is a healthy sign of a language that is actively growing. Since understanding Biology in English is the main aim of this dictionary, we have tried to use English that is suitable for second language speakers, and Khmer words whose meaning is easy to understand. For those words that are new to the English language, and could not be easily translated into Khmer, we have given Khmer spelling that will help with pronunciation. But we must remember that: the definitions of words can change over time eg. Mongolism is now Down’s Syndrome or Trisomy 21; there is sometimes more than one correct definition eg. wetland has a wide range of meaning ; and, different spellings can be correct eg feces = faeces. This book is an attempt to represent a consensus of current usage, but further change is inevitable. We hope that this book will become a useful reference for Cambodian students and teachers and assist them in accessing the wealth of information about Biology that is available in English. David Ford Biology Department, RUPP, 2002 Acknowledgements Many thanks to the following people for their hard work: Hap Sophorn (translation and editing), Hang Chan Thon (translation and editing), Men Noeun (translation), Khieng Sothy (translation). Also thanks to the following people for their assistance in specific subject areas: Thai Ieng Ly (anatomy), Thou Phorn (genetics), Ke Kuntheamealea (biochemistry), Kop Sokhom (vertebrates), and Kauv Samnang (invertebrates). Also thanks to Mr Peter Leth for his help in sorting the Khmer – English section. Finally, this book would not have been produced without the assistance of the NGOs Australian Volunteers International and MaryKnoll.

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