WORD-FORMATION OF NEW VOCABULARY IN THAI DICTIONARY

Abstract

The increase or decrease in the vocabulary of a language is a natural aspect of language evolution. Word formation refers to the process through which a language incorporates new words and meanings into social usage. Thai is a language known for its diverse methods of forming new words. This article aims to illustrate how new words are formed in Thai. The research data were extracted from the New Words Dictionary, published by the Royal Institute. This study adopts a documentary and qualitative linguistic approach. Rahti and Gusdian’s (2018) word-formation classification framework, based on the Oxford dictionary, serves as a guide for analyzing new words in Thai. The findings reveal 10 distinct methods of forming new words in the Thai language, with compounding being the most prevalent. While this research aligns with Rahti and Gusdian’s framework in 8 processes, it diverges in 2 processes. Specifically, this study did not identify affixation and blending processes but identified sound imitation and sound assimilation processes, which may be unique to Thai word formation. Subsequent research should explore English loanwords in the new words dictionary, categorizing them to uncover their relationships with new meanings in Thai society.