Preliminary Exploration of Teochew Dialect in Thailand

by changwenguang on 2008-05-12 12:39:38

The people of Chaozhou (commonly referred to as Chaoren), have long since migrated to Thailand (1). A large number of Chaoren have harmoniously coexisted with the local Thai population over a long period, making significant contributions to Thailand's economic prosperity and social development. Simultaneously, the Chaozhou dialect (commonly referred to as Chaoyu) used by the Chaoren not only became the primary language of Chinese immigrants in Thailand but also had a profound impact on the local Thai language. Quite a few Chaoyu words were absorbed into Thai, becoming part of contemporary Thai. However, while Chaoyu was absorbed by Thai, it also independently developed in the specific environment of Thailand after leaving its homeland, gradually forming a distinct Thai-style Chaoyu that differs from the current Chaoyu spoken in the Chaoshan region of China. From 1993 to 1997, I worked in Thailand for nearly four years. After returning to China, due to work-related reasons, I frequently visited Thailand and maintained close contact with the Thai-Chinese community. I gained considerable insight into the status and influence of Chaoyu in Thai society, as well as its own evolution. Based on my personal investigations and research, combined with relevant materials, I will now make an initial exploration of these issues, hoping to spark further discussion and seek guidance from experts in the field.