Phonetic and phonemic study of Kui language spoken in Northeastern Thailand

本研究的目的是对泰国素林省的孟高棉语之一的奎语进行语音和音位分析。南亚语系孟高棉语的一个特点是存在着以音位型为基础的音位对比。为了考察该语系某些语言中的呼吸音和正常音对比的语音特性，用DAT记录仪对Kuy音进行了数字记录和分析。此外，还对Kuy音的语音特性进行了研究。为了调查素林省Sankha县使用多种语言的情况，进行了实地工作，采访了一些学校的教师和学生。在该地区，泰国，老挝方言，北方高棉语除了奎使用。根据调查，教师和学生都对使用当地语言，如奎语和北方高棉语持积极态度，尽管教材只用泰文编写，因此，年轻人几乎都能完全掌握国语。通过问卷调查从该地区192人中收集的数据清楚地表明，年轻学生（15岁以下）一般都能很好地掌握泰语，以库族语为母语的人也能很好地掌握高棉语和老挝语，而以高棉语为母语的人不太擅长库族语或老挝语，以老挝语为母语的人不擅长库族语或高棉语。

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.