A Study on the Similarities and Differences of Noun-to-Verb Conversion in Sino-Thai Internet Buzzwords

Abstract

Conversion is a common method for forming new words in both Chinese and Thai, among which noun-to-verb conversion is one of the most active word formation types in conversion words. It significantly enriches the lexicon of both languages, broadening the scope of vocabulary usage, and enhancing lexical application and rhetorical prowess. With the rapid development of the Internet, noun-to-verb conversion has undeniably emerged as a cost-effective and convenient choice in Internet Buzzwords. Some of these formations are ephemeral, while others have cemented their place in daily communication. This paper, by organizing and analyzing recent cases of Sino-Thai noun-to-verb Internet buzzwords, aims to categorize their formation types. The results reveal two primary types: semantic extension and non-semantic extension. Furthermore, these noun-to-verb constructs in Internet buzzwords highlight the interconnectedness of online cultural spheres, the economy of internet language, the life cycle of digital culture, and the diversity of internet culture in terms of semantics, morphology, usage, and rhetoric. However, due to linguistic variances between Chinese and Thai, Chinese noun-to-verb constructs showcase stronger semantic associations, while their Thai counterparts present a more diverse and richer array in terms of written linguistic forms.