A Comparative Study on Chinese and Thai Polite Words

Abstract

Abstract

 The objectives of this research were to 1) study and classify the polite words of Chinese language and Thai language, and 2) compare the use of polite words for communication between Chinese and Thai. The process of conducting this research included: study the information on Chinese and Thai polite languages or polite words, study the theories and related research, collect different types of Chinese and Thai polite words, classify and categorize Chinese and Thai polite words, and analyze and summarize the similarities and differences of Chinese and Thai polite words.

The findings indicated the 9 types of Chinese and Thai polite words with different categories including: (1) Greeting can be classified into 5 categories, (2) Thank can be classified into 3 categories, (3) Apology can be classified into 3 categories, (4) Compliment can be classified into 2 categories, (5) Blessing can be classified into 5 categories, (6) Pleasant Words can be classified into 3 categories (7) Appeal is classified into 4 categories, (8) Refusal can be classified into 3 categories, and (9) Farewell can be classified into 2 categories. There are both similarities and differences among the categories. In terms of similarities, the use of all categories of Chinese and Thai polite words must rely on appropriateness, situation, surrounding, and interpersonal relationships towards the selection of words and language that are suitable for different persons. For the differences, Thai society tends to classify the use of language based on age, gender, and social hierarchy. For example, male uses the word krub (ครับ) and female uses ka (ค่ะ) at the end of any sentence for emphasizing the politeness, whereas Chinese language does not have these kinds of words. In addition, the differences arising from culture, beliefs, and habitudes, as well as the structural form of words or sentences come from learning through the contexts and environments in which the Chinese and Thai people live.