The Puzzle of Words: Discovering Semantic Change in Malay–Sanskrit Loanwords Shared With Thai
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1512.34Keywords:
Malay word, Sanskrit Loanword, Thai, crossword puzzle, gameAbstract
The objectives of research were 1) to examine the historical background and influence of Sanskrit in both Malaysia and Thailand; 2) to investigate the semantic changes in Malay words of Sanskrit origin that also appear as loanwords in Thai; and 3) to explore the effectiveness of using a crossword puzzle game as a tool for learning Thai vocabulary of Sanskrit origin derived from Malay. The sample group consisted of nine master’s degree students enrolled in the course 01361513 Foreign Languages in Relation to the Thai Language at Kasetsart University during 2024. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed for analysis. The findings revealed that Sanskrit, Malay and Thai belong to distinct language families: Sanskrit is part of the Indo-European family, Malay belongs to the Austronesian family, and Thai is a member of the Tai language family. Sanskrit first appeared in South Asian inscriptions during the early centuries of the Common Era and subsequently exerted a wide-ranging influence across the South Asian subcontinent and much of Southeast Asia, including regions where Malay is spoken. The Thai language has likewise been influenced by Sanskrit for centuries. A comparative analysis of Sanskrit-derived words in Malay and Thai demonstrated notable semantic shifts. The most frequently observed type of semantic change was widening of meaning, followed by narrowing and transferring. The use of a crossword puzzle game proved to be an effective supplementary tool. Evidence from pre-test, post-test and intervention data indicated improvements in students’ understanding of Sanskrit-derived vocabulary in both Malay and Thai.
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