Phonetic and phonemic study of Kui language spoken in Northeastern Thailand

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The aim of this research project is to conduct phonetic and phonemic analysis of Kui language, one of Mon-Khmer languages spoken in Surin province of Thailand. One of characteristics of the Mon-Khmer languages of Austroasiatic language family is that the existence of the phonemic contrast based on phonation type found in some languages of the family.In order to examine the phonetic properties of breathy and normal phonation contrast Kuy syllables are digitally recorded with a DAT recorder and analyzed.In addition, field work was conducted for interviewing a few number of teachers and pupils of schools to survey the situation of multi-lingualism in Sankha district, Surin province. In the area, Thai, Laotian dialect, Northern Khmer are used in addition to Kui. According to the survey, both teachers and pupils have a positive attitude in using local languages such as Kui and northern Khmer, though teaching materials are written in Thai only, therefore, young people are almost all in full command of the national language. The data, which were collected from 192 people in the area in terms of a questionnaire, shows clearly that young pupils (under 15) in general are in good command of Thai, that Kui native speakers are also good at Khmer and Lao, as compared with Khmer native speakers who are less good at Kui or Lao, and Lao native speakers who are not good at Kui nor Khmer.