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iii Title: The Perceptions of Native English Speakers Regarding Thai Nicknames Based on English Loanwords Author: Mr. Justin Akiyo Yoshida Degree: Master of Arts in English Language Studies Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University Advisors: Assistant Professor Dr. Sooksil Prasongsook Assistant Professor Dr. Mayureesirin Siriwan Year: 2019 ABSTRACT The objectives of this research were 1) to identify Thai nicknames that are loanwords from the English language within a sample group and 2) determine the reasons they were chosen. Another objective 3) was to determine how native English speakers perceive Thai nicknames. It was necessary to identify Thai nicknames that were loanwords from the English language, as well as determine if/ why English loanwords were purposefully chosen as nicknames. The methods for data collection were surveys of 155 parents and teachers of children with foreign nicknames and semi-structured interviews of 29 of that group. Determining how these nicknames were perceived by native English speakers was achieved by analyzing previous studies of nicknames and loanwords used by Thai speakers of English during conversation in English. Then, 100 native English speakers were surveyed and interviewed about what they thought of nicknames on the list collected in the first survey. The method of data analysis was content analysis and statistics were expressed in simple percentages. The results from the survey of parents at the chosen school showed that approximately one in six students had a nickname that may have originated from English. The main reasons nicknames were chosen were for (perceived) good meaning and how they sound. However, the results showed that many nicknames and meanings perceived to be NES ( Native English Speaker’ s) English by Thais are actually not, resulting in names that may sound strange or carry a negative meaning. Keywords: Thai Nicknames, Loanwords, NES English Major Advisor ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my thesis advisors, Asst. Prof. Dr. Sooksil Prasongsook and Asst. Prof. Dr. Mayureesirin Siriwan, for supporting me throughout my studies at the English Language Studies program at Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University. I also deeply thank the other members of the thesis review committee, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Narongrit Sopa and Dr. Thanaporn Pantawee for their invaluable comments and recommendations on my thesis. In addition, Asst. Prof. Dr. Ladawan Wattanaboot and Dr. Nitaya Klangchanee provided me unwavering support throughout my course of studies. Without the constructive comments and feedback of all of the above-named parties, it would have been impossible for me to complete this thesis to the standards of the university. I would also like to thank my friend and coworker, Chutipa Kongsombut, and esteemed boss, Dr. Wichaya Yoshida, as well as assorted friends and colleagues for spending many hours checking lists of nicknames and answering endless questions about Thai customs and culture. Special thanks goes to Ajarn Chris Wright (AKA Chris Delivery) of television and English education fame for granting me a long interview on one special area of his expertise – unusual Thai names, which were too numerous (and concerned proper names rather than nicknames) to include in this thesis, but will be included in my future work. I would like to express my very sincere gratitude to the parents, teachers, and students of the schools around the northeastern region of Thailand who were kind enough to participate in my surveys, in particular those at Mahasarakham University Demonstration School. I would also like to thank the foreign participants of the second online survey, who provided invaluable information about their insights and perceptions of Thai nicknames and culture. Finally yet importantly, I would like to thank Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Graduate studies for supporting me with a grant for my studies and providing me an opportunity to learn and develop my skills. It was only with all of the above-mentioned support and many other individuals and organizations who were not mentioned that I was able to complete this dissertation. Thank you all! Justin A. Yoshida v TABLE OF CONTENTS Content ................................................................................................................. Page ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................... iiv LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................. vii LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................ viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................. x CHAPTER 1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY .............................................. 1 1.1 Introduction and Purposes of the Chapter .............................. 1 1.2 Purposes of the Study ............................................................. 3 1.3 Research Questions ................................................................ 3 1.4 Significance of the Study ........................................................ 3 1.5 Scope and Limitations of the Study ........................................ 4 1.6 Definition of Key Terms ......................................................... 4 1.7 Expected Outcomes ................................................................ 5 1.8 Summary .................................................................................. 5 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................. 6 2.1 Language Change .................................................................... 7 2.2 Loanwords in the Thai Language ........................................... 13 2.3 Thai Nicknames ...................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .................................................. 23 3.1 Research Methodology ........................................................... 23 3.1.1 Exploratory Research .................................................... 23 3.1.2 Descriptive research ...................................................... 24 3.1.3 Context .......................................................................... 24 3.2 Research Participants .............................................................. 24 3.3 Research Procedures ............................................................... 25 3.3.1 Sampling Method .......................................................... 25 3.3.2 Sample Size ................................................................... 25 vi Content ................................................................................................................. Page 3.4 Research Instruments .............................................................. 26 3.5 Research Period ...................................................................... 27 3.6 Secondary Data ....................................................................... 27 3.7 Summary .................................................................................. 28 CHAPTER 4 FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS ...................................................... 29 4.1 Findings and Analysis of RQ1 ................................................ 29 4.1.1 Top Thai Nicknames that may be English Loanwords .................................................................... 30 4.1.2 Reasons for English-Origin Nicknames in Thailand .... 32 4.2 Findings and Analysis of RQ2 ................................................ 41 CHAPTER 5 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ......................................... 73 5.1 Discussion ............................................................................... 73 5.2 Conclusions ............................................................................. 76 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................. 77 APPENDICES ....................................................................................................... 83 Appendix A Indexes of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) Summary Form ........................................................ 84 Appendix B IOC Approval Letter .............................................. 87 Appendix C Survey Request to MSU Sathit School .................. 89 Appendix D Thai Nicknames Survey for Parents (Paper Version) ........................................................ 91 Appendix E Thai Nicknames Survey for Teachers (Paper Version) ........................................................ 94 Appendix F Thai Nicknames Survey for Native English Speakers ................................................................... 97 Appendix G Detailed Results - Thai Nicknames Survey for Parents ................................................................ 106 Appendix H Detailed Results - Thai Nicknames Survey for Teachers ............................................................. 119 BIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................ 131 vii LIST OF TABLES Table ................................................................................................................... Page 3.1 Top Names in Thai............................................................................................