This work is a guide to the languages and literatures of Southeast Asia, a huge region, almost as large as western and eastern Europe combined, with a multitude of ethnic groups, languages, religions, social structures and governments. The area is home to almost 450 million people speaking hundreds of different languages and even more dialects. There are four major independent language families of which Malay, and its Indonesian forms, is the most important and is considered to be the world's fourth largest language. Despite the size and diversity of the regions, there is a striking cultural cohesion, and this bibliographical survey shows the languages and literatures in their rich and historical depth, wide thematic range and stylistic variety, drawing upon indigenous and western sources.