Study on Confusable Words for Thai Learners from Perspective of Lexical Mental Representation: A Case Study of Jia, Jiating, and Jiaren

Abstract

Based on the theoretical basis of mental representation of vocabulary and the research of confusable words, this paper investigates the distribution and characteristics of confusable words among Thai learners. Screening of easily confused words found in the process of Thai learners of “family” of this group of “home/family” confusion is serious, so this article attempts to clarify the confusable lexical characteristics of “home” (jia), “family” (jiating), and “family-member” (jiaren) , find out the causes of confusion based on the theory of lexical mental representation, and illustrate the connotation of semantic migration in detail from the perspective of negative transferring of native tongue. At last, it puts forward for the solution of teaching strategies to distinguish “home” (jia), “family” (jiating), and “family-member” (jiaren) during the course of teaching.