Linguistic Preshistory in Southeast Asia: 2000 Years of Contact Between Austroastic and Austronesian Speakers

The project focuses on two Austroasiatic language groups, Bahnaric and Katuic, and one Austronesian, Chamic, which are located mainly in Vietnam and neighbouring countries. These languages have been in continuous contact for around 2000 years. The aim is to intensively investigate the history of language contact and change, leading to improved understanding of the general processes involved, and the histories of the particular languages and peoples. Outcomes will include improved reconstructions of proto-languages, and papers describing and discussing in detail the typology and processes of language contact and change.