The Code-Mixing of English Loanwords by Mathayom Suksa 1 and Mathayom Suksa 2 Thai Learners

Abstract

The study describes the characteristics of mixing English, by Thai speakers, with Thai-based discourses in the general daily conversations of young Thai learners. The possible functions of code-mixing English loanwords, the factors of such loanwords, and the new language identities built by mixing languages were also explored. The research sample consisted of eighty learners classified into sixty learners from Mathayom Suksa 1 and twenty learners from Mathayom Suksa 2, obtained by purposive sampling. The research instrument used for gathering data was the spreadsheet. The statistics used for data analysis were frequency and percentage. The findings revealed that code mixing of English loanwords occurred mainly during the informal, casual discussion of hobbies or interests among the young Thai samples.