Comparative Studies on the Use of Short and Long Vowel Sounds in French Loanwords in Novels Translated into Thai with the Royal Society of Thailand System for Transcribing French Words into Thai (2011)

Abstract

French and Thai have different sound systems and use different sets of symbols for writing purposes. Using different sets of written symbols for the same language may cause some confusion in pronunciation. In the French writing system, short or long vowels are not present as in Thai language. In transliterating into the Thai alphabet, French vowels must be converted into short vowel or long vowels. Characters from different individual writing systems are often converted differently. Therefore, the Thai Royal Society introduced a system for transcribing French words into Thai language. Yet complexities result, derived from basing transliteration on syllabic structure and the type of vowels sounds. Ultimately, many translators prefer to follow their own individual approaches to convert French words into Thai language.