Variations of Southern Thai Dialect Vocabulary according to Sociological Factor of Age in the Banthat Mountain Range, Phatthalung Province

Abstract

This study explored variations of Southern Thai dialect vocabulary according to the sociological factor of age in the Banthat Mountain Range, Phatthalung Province Data were collected from villages in Kong Ra, Tamot, and Pa Bon districts of the Banthat Mountain Range using an interview form and a questionnaire. A total of 109 dialect words were used to collect data from the informants who were classified into three age-range groups as 55 years old and over, 35-45 years old, and 15-25 years old. Six informants from each village, two from each age group, totaling 66 people were recruited to participate in the study. Results revealed four types of variations in the front position, mid position and end position of the word, with also variation of the entire word. The most frequently found variation type was in the entire word, while the least was variation in the mid position of the word.