Abstract

On the basis of quantitative and qualitative approaches, the paper classifies Khmer bilinguals in Mekong Delta, Vietnam into 11 types, which are regrouped into five distinct categories. On this basis, the paper introduces socio-linguistic characteristics of each category and its development trends. The paper includes the following parts 1. Some theoretical and empirical basis in the research on classification of bilinguals 2. Analysis of classifying criteria. 3. Results of the research: types and categories of Vietnamese-Khmer bilinguals 4. Description of the characteristics of those categories. The result of the resesarch makes important contribution to educational and linguistic policy making for the Khmer people in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam and suggests a research pattern in classifying bilinguals in Vietnam.