A Comparative Study of the Tonal Systems of the Tai Phuan Language Spoken in Chiang Khan District, Loei Province

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the tonal systems and the phonetic characteristics of the Tai Phuan language spoken in Chiang Khan District, Loei Province. Data were collected from two villages: Ban Klang, located in Pak Tum Sub-district, and Ban Buhom, located in Buhom Sub-district. The study employed William J. Gedney’s tonal box framework for the analysis of tonal systems and utilized the Praat software for the phonetic analysis of tones. The findings revealed that the Tai Phuan language in Ban Klang exhibited five tonal units, with a tonal system categorized as A1-234 B1234 C1=DL123 and C234=DL4 (B≠DL). In contrast, the Tai Phuan language in Ban Buhom demonstrated six tonal units, with a tonal system categorized as A1-234 C123-4 B123=DL123 and B4=DL4 (B=DL), which highlighted a distinctive feature of tonal merging patterns the Tai Phuan language spoken in the two villages. The comparison of tonal systems between the Tai Phuan varieties spoken in Chiang Khan District indicated differences both in the number of tonal units and the patterns of tonal merging. The study showed that Ban Buhom had preserved the traditional Tai Phuan language well, whereas the tonal system in Ban Klang exhibited similarities to the Lao language group. The observed tonal changes in Ban Klang were likely the result of language contact.