Comparative Analysis of Cognates: A Case of Thai and Khmer Languages

Abstract

            This research aimed to analyze Thai and Khmer vocabulary that were similar in order to classify the origins of the vocabulary. The study employed a form of descriptive analysis from the vocabulary in the alphabetical category of Chor (ឆ.) from the 1969 Khmer buddhasasanabundit dictionary and the vocabulary in the alphabetical category of Chor Ching (ฉ.) from the 1982 Royal Institute Dictionary.

            It was found that there were 64 vocabulary that were similar. The origins of the vocabulary could be classified as follows; 46 Khmer vocabulary that were similar to Thai words, 14 Khmer vocabulary with Pali and Sanskrit origin that similar to Thai words, 2 Khmer vocabulary with Chinese language origin that similar to Thai words and 2 Khmer vocabulary with Thai language origin that similar to Thai words.

            These findings showed that some words in the Khmer and Thai languages were very similar although they were from different language families.