According to
Ethnologue, four major dialects exist: Central, Eastern and Southern Mnong (all spoken in Vietnam), and Kraol (spoken in Cambodia). Within a dialect group, members
do not understand other dialects. The Mnong language was studied first by the linguist Richard Phillips in the early 1970s. Lê, et al. (2014:234-235) lists the following subgroups of Mnong and their respective locations. •
Mnông Gar: in northwestern
Lâm Đồng Province and southern
Lak Lake. •
Mnông Nong: in
Đắk Nông District and
Đắk Min District •
Mnông Kuênh: in
Krông Pắk District •
Mnông Pré: mainly in
Đắk Nông District and
Đắk Min District, and a few at
Lak Lake. •
Mnông Prâng: scattered in
Đắk Nông District and
Đắk Min District, and a few in southern
Lak Lake and in Bản Đon,
Ea Súp District. •
Mnông Rlăm: in
Lắk District. Many have close relationships with the Ê-đê people. •
Mnông Bu-đâng: in Bản Đon,
Ea Súp District •
Mnông Chỉl: in
Lắk District. Many have close relationships with the Ê-đê people. Some also live in
Lạc Dương District and
Đức Trọng District of
Lâm Đồng Province. •
Mnông Bu Nor: in
Đắk Nông District and
Đắk Min District •
Mnông Dih Bri: very small population in
Đắk Nông District; Êa Krông. •
Mnông Đíp:
Đắk Min District and the northern part of former
Sông Bé Province. •
Mnông Biat: small population in former
Sông Bé Province. Majority living around the Vietnam-Cambodia border. •
Mnông Bu Đêh: in former
Sông Bé Province and
Đắk Lắk Province •
Mnông Si Tô: a group of
Mạ (Mạ Tô) people in
Đắk Nông District who have become assimilated into the Mnông population ("Mnông-ized" Mạ people) •
Mnông K’ah: a group of
Ê-đê people scattered across
Đắk Nông District,
Lắk District, and
M'Đrăk District who have become assimilated into the Mnông population ("Mnông-ized" Ê-đê people) •
Mnông Phê Đâm: small population living only in Quảng Tín
commune,
Đắk Nông District. Other minor Mnong
ethnic groups include the
Mnông Rơ Đe,
Mnông R’Ông, and
Mnông K’Ziêng. Nguyễn & Trương (2009) cover the following M'Nông dialects. • M'Nông Preh • Kuênh • Mạ • M'Nông Nâr (Bu Nâr) • M'Nông Noong (Bu Noong) • M'Nông R'Lâm • M'Nông Prâng == Phonology ==