การแปรศัพท์ภาษายองจังหวัดลำพูนตามตัวแปรอายุ

Lexical Variations of Yong Language in Lamphun Province by Age Variables

Abstract

This article aimed to study characteristics of lexical variations and patterns of Yong language usage among informants of 3 different age groups in 7 districts of Lamphun Province, using 30 semantic units found only in Yong language and had different lexical forms from those of its neighboring languages, namely, Northern Thai and Central Thai dialects. It was found that; 1) There were 2 characteristics of lexical variations: the variation from the use of different lexicons and the variation from the use of same lexicons. 2) There were 5 patterns of Yong lexical usage among the informants of the three age groups, which can be divided into 3 major patterns: the same usage of lexicons in all three age groups, the same usage of lexicons in two age groups, and the different usage of lexicons in all three age groups. The informants in age group 1 had the most frequency in using Yong lexicons, while the informants in age group 3 had the most frequency in using lexicons from other Thai dialects, and the informants in age group 2 had the most frequency in using Yong lexicons together with the lexicons from other Thai dialects. Moreover, the use of old Yong lexicons in age group 1 and 3 was significantly different with statistical value of 0.05, which may result in the Yong lexicons being replaced by borrowed lexicons from other Thai dialects, and eventually lead to the loss of Yong lexicons in the future.