In focus 2005-2006.qxd - Center for Khmer Studies

SPECIAL EVENT
David Chandler’s A History of Cambodia in Khmer language
Successfully introducing book publishing at CKS
On August 11, 2005 the long-awaited translation into the Khmer language of
A History of Cambodia, by the American historian David Chandler, was
officially launched at the CKS office in Phnom Penh.
Philippe Peycam, Director of CKS, Mark Storella, Deputy Chief of
Mission of the US Embassy and David Chandler spoke to a crowd of
over 100 people who gathered for the occasion. David Chandler also
signed copies of his book. This translation marked the launch of our new
CKS Khmer publication series.
Chandler's book has long been considered one of the essential reference
texts, providing a clear and concise historical account of Cambodia from
prehistoric times to 1999, but it had never before been available in the
Khmer language. The translation and printing of the book was
supported by the Van Waveren Foundation (New York) and the
Embassy of the United States of America in Phnom Penh.
Westview Press, a member of the Perseus Books Group, kindly agreed to
cede CKS the foreign rights for free, and David Chandler waived his
author's royalties. Four young Cambodians - Mam Vannary, Prak
Sonnara and Seng Soth, graduate students from the Royal University of
Fine Arts, and Chin Channa, a former monk - undertook the translation,
while Prof. Michel Rethy Antelme (INALCO, Paris) and Deth THACH
in Phnom Penh proofread and edited the final manuscript.
In the years to come CKS hopes to translate and publish more essential
academic texts in Khmer for Cambodian students and the Cambodian
public in general.
Siksacakr, the trilingual peer-reviewed academic journal,
which gives an opportunity for Cambodian scholars
to publish in their own language, is also an essential
component of the CKS’s publishing program.
The translation team with the author: Mam Vannary, Chin Channa, David Chandler,
Seng Soth, Prak Sonnara, and Thach Deth
IN FOCUS 15