The Formation Process of Identical Word Forms across Different Word Classes: A Case Study of Identical Word Forms Classified as Nouns and Verbs in Thai

Abstract

           The research aimed to study: 1) the formation process of identical word forms classified as nouns and verbs in Thai; and 2) the relationship between identical forms across word classes and polysemy. This study employed a qualitative research methodology. The data were collected by identifying the word forms designated as nouns (abbreviated as "N.") and verbs (abbreviated as "V.") in the Royal Institute Dictionary B.E. 2554.The results showed that identical word forms of different word classes arise from the dynamic categorization process of word classes, which includes the classification of word classes as a starting point, the conversion of word classes as an intermediate stage, and the emergence of identical word forms of different word classes as an endpoint. At the same time, this endpoint also becomes the starting point of a new cycle of word-class categorization. Polysemous and identical forms of different word classes are closely related. It can be concluded that polysemous words may not necessarily become identical word forms of different word classes, but identical word forms of different word classes certainly become polysemous. Polysemous words are the important basis for the emergence of identical word forms of different word classes, whereas words with only a single meaning cannot be identical word forms of different word classes.