Linguistics and Literature Studies Vol. 6(2), pp. 77 - 87
DOI: 10.13189/lls.2018.060205
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Morphologically Complex Words in Tai Khrang

Unchalee Singnoi Wongwattana ^*
Faculty of Humanities, Naresuan University, Thailand

ABSTRACT

This article aims to study morphologically complex words in Tai Khrang spoken in the lower northern part of Thailand to examine their syntactic and semantic associations. Data were collected from Ban Nong Moet (Saen to Subdistrict, Khanuworalakburi District, Kamphaeng Phet Province) and Ban Sa Yai Shi (Nong Sano Subdistrict, Sam Ngam District, Phichit Province) as well as from naturally occurring texts such as local narratives and dialogues on Face book. The result shows that morphologically complex words in Tai Khrang are compounded in two strategies such as syntactic and semi-syntactic compounding strategies. As for the syntactic strategy, it is the most salient word formation in the language that is in a complex and sophisticated manner that could reflect the people worldviews and culture. They are performed in three syntactic categories such as synthetic, verb-verb and noun-noun compounds. The synthetic compounding operates like simple clauses, nominalization, and phrases. The verb-verb strategy displays serial verb constructions. And the noun-noun strategy displays different semantic associations graduating from more to less transparent.

KEYWORDS
Tai Khrang, Syntactic Compounding, Semi-syntactic Compounding, Reduplication, Similarity, Membership, Opposition

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Unchalee Singnoi Wongwattana , "Morphologically Complex Words in Tai Khrang," Linguistics and Literature Studies, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 77 - 87, 2018. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2018.060205.

(b). APA Format:
Unchalee Singnoi Wongwattana (2018). Morphologically Complex Words in Tai Khrang. Linguistics and Literature Studies, 6(2), 77 - 87. DOI: 10.13189/lls.2018.060205.