Annamite language
- noun
- Archaic
- The term Annamite language has become less common, with 'Vietnamese' now preferred.
Examples
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French colonial records often referred to Vietnamese as the Annamite language.
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Linguists classify the Annamite language within the Mon-Khmer family.
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The Annamite language has a rich history.
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Many people in Vietnam speak the Annamite language.
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French colonial records often referred to Vietnamese as the Annamite language.
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Linguists classify the Annamite language within the Mon-Khmer family.
-
The term Annamite language has become less common, with 'Vietnamese' now preferred.
Synonyms
12
4.2
A language spoken mainly in Vietnam and by its people living abroad
1
3.5
The official way people in Vietnam speak using six tones
1
9.9
An old name for the Vietnamese language or local languages once spoken in parts of Vietnam
An old name for the language of Vietnam
An old name for the Vietnamese language
Surface Forms
Morphology
This phrase is a straightforward noun phrase combining the name/adjective 'Annamite' (referring to the language or people of Annam/Vietnam) with 'language', so its meaning 'the language called Annamite / the Vietnamese language' follows directly from the constituents. Although 'Annamite' is archaic/rare, the compositional pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words would be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Annamite language comes from Annam, an old name used by people from China and France for a part of Vietnam, so it originally meant the language of 'Annam'. Today that name is old-fashioned and we usually say 'Vietnamese' instead.