Language Choice and Maintenance of North-eastern Thai Migrants in the South of Thailand

Abstract

This research paper aims to study language choice and maintenance of North-eastern Thai migrants in the South of Thailand and to examine sociological factors influencing language choice and maintenance of North-eastern Thai migrants in the South of Thailand. The sample group consisted of 60 North-eastern Thai migrants in the South of Thailand selected by multi-stage method. The data collection tools included questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The research results revealed that the sample group, regardless of their ages, typically chose to use the North-eastern Thai dialect in informal situations including conversations with family, relatives or neighbours, and religious rituals. On the contrary, they chose Standard Thai in formal situations including speaking with strangers outside the community and with those in government domains. Furthermore, younger people used Standard Thai more than the other two groups while elderly people often used North-eastern Thai more than the other two groups. In addition, a macro-level analysis of sociological factors affecting the language maintenance of the sample group shows influence in six forms including regular social interaction between community group member, using the community language in the home, positive attitudes to the language and a high value placed on it in relation to ethnic identity, and residential contiguity, community-identified religious organization, and a positive orientation to the homeland. However, the results showed other two sociological factors unaffecting the language maintenance of the sample group including resistance to interethnic marriage and support for community language school.