Old Cham

Old Cham refers to a historical language and the people who spoke it. It is an extinct Austronesian language formerly spoken in the kingdom of Champa, which existed in central and southern Vietnam from roughly the 2nd to the 15th centuries CE. Old Cham is considered the ancestor of the modern Cham language, as well as related languages like Rade, Jarai, and Chru.

The language played a significant role in the political, religious, and cultural life of the Champa kingdom. It was used in inscriptions, religious texts, and administrative documents. These inscriptions, often written in a script derived from South Indian alphabets, provide valuable insights into the history, society, and beliefs of the Cham people.

The decline of the Champa kingdom led to a fragmentation of the Cham people and a gradual shift in language use. While modern Cham survives, Old Cham is no longer spoken and is primarily known through the study of surviving inscriptions and historical records. Linguistic analysis of Old Cham is crucial for understanding the evolution of Austronesian languages and the history of Southeast Asia. The study of Old Cham texts often requires specialized knowledge of epigraphy, historical linguistics, and Southeast Asian history.