A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THAI AND CHINESE PHONOLOGY FOR THE USE OF BASIC THAI LANGUAGE TEACHING AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Abstract

This article aims to comparatively study the phonology of Thai and Chinese language for the use of basic Thai language teaching as a foreign language. Following the study result, it finds that the phonological system of consonants, vowels and tones in both Thai and Chinese language has the similar and different characteristics. For those of different phonemes, these might cause the pronunciation problems for Chinese learners since the influence of their native language. When teaching of Thai sounds for Chinese learners, teachers can compare the phonetic system between Thai and Chinese language and use the knowledge of phonology to explain the special pronunciation and manners of articulation, as well as give the examples of Chinese words that their sounds are similar to Thai consonants, vowels and/or tones. Meanwhile Chinese learners would more understand the similarity and difference of the phonological system between Thai and Chinese language by way of this method. Additionally learners can use the sound of Chinese morphemes or words as analogy and this would help them to pronunce Thai sounds accurately and clearly.