Lexical borrowing between Austronesian and Tai-Kadai language families: Focus on Malay and Thai languages

Abstract

This paper investigates lexical borrowings between the Malay language (spoken by Pattani Malays, in Thailand) and the Thai language (spoken by Thais living in Kedah, Malaysia), belonging to the Austronesian and Tai-Kadai language families respectively. The borrowing process, as well as the phonological aspects of lexical items under study, is discussed.

A brief description of the historical background and characteristics of languages and dialects provides for a better understanding of the borrowing process between the two languages and dialects. The borrowing process is explored and explained with a description of physical change in the lexical items, and through the perceptions and world view of the speakers, i.e. Standard Malay versus Kedah Thai and Standard Thai versus Pattani Malay. It is found that culture and history of the communities which the speakers originate from, contributed immensely to the formation of their world view, impacting their languages and dialect.

This paper will provide researchers in the area of language borrowing a better insight on how the synchronic and diachronic approach can describe the language phenomena in a holistic manner.