Spelling Errors in Thai Words Made by Chinese Students Learning Thai Communication as a Second Language, Huachiew Chalermprakiet University

Abstract

This research aimed to study the problems of spelling errors in Thai words of undergraduate Chinese students, during academic year 2017, at Huachiew Chalermprakiet University. This qualitative study analyzed the spelling errors made by the Chinese students studying Thai for at least 1 year.

          This research aimed to study the problems of spelling errors in Thai words of undergraduate Chinese students, during academic year 2017, at Huachiew Chalermprakiet University. This qualitative study analyzed the spelling errors made by the Chinese students studying Thai for at least 1 year.

          The results of the study showed that Chinese students produced 5 spelling mistakes when they wrote Thai words: 1. Vowel writing problems 2. Consonant writing problems 3. Tone writing problems 4. The problem of writing alternate characters 5. Wrong input in the orthography.  These 3 problems showed similar aspects: 1) using incorrect vowels, consonants, and tone, 2) missing consonants, vowels and tones, and 3) adding some extra consonants, vowels, and tones. Each of these mistakes had different details namely, using incorrect similar sounds of vowels, incorrect form of vowels, using incorrect similar form of vowels, using incorrect consonants, incorrect consonants with similar sounds, adding extra consonants to the final consonants, using vowels instead of final consonants, using incorrect tonal forms, and placing tones in the wrong position, etc. It was also found that students used vowels, consonants, and tonal forms alternately. The problems of writing incorrect Thai words may be caused by many reasons such as memorizing Thai consonants, pronouncing the word incorrectly leading to writing mistakes, carelessness, copying work from other sources, etc.