Pranee Kullavanijaya
Chulalongkorn University
This study has three objectives. The first is to find when the word aa1chiip3 [อาชีพ] “occupation” appeared in the Thai lexicon with its current full meaning. This is based on the belief that a word will not be in the lexicon if the speaker does not need to express its meaning. Secondly, to study constructions of occupation terms and related words in order to see how these have developed. Thirdly, to see whether occupation items can reveal modes of living and their development in Thai society.
It has been found out that the word aa1chiip3 was used to mean “occupation” around 1928, although before that, in the reign of King Rama V, the idea of working for a living had been introduced through phrases such as “a possible way or trend for a living.” Using the identified occupation words from lists from the Department of Employment, Ministry of Labour, and from a research report, a search of earlier documents was made resulting in 110 items. These items and the identified occupation words were then investigated for word construction. It was learned that two types of construction could be identified. The first type consisted of relatively new terms borrowed from English. The other type consisted mostly of the items that are compounds with the head modified by two or three constituents. Compounds with chaaŋ3 [ช่าง] and mɔɔ5 [หมู่] as headwords are the older items; compounds with nak, phuu; khon are in the middle of the development line; and phə1nak4ŋaan1 and caaw3naa3thii3 represent the most recent development.
Compounds with chaaŋ3 as the headword were found largest in number, displaying both old occupations, such as chaaŋ3 may4 “carpenter”, chaaŋ3 puun1 “mason”, as well as more recent occupations, such as chaaŋ3 tham1 phom5 “hairdresser” and chaaŋ3 sɔm3 ɛɛ1 “air-conditioner technician”. Compared with other compounds, words using nak are increasingly used to denote occupations involving high technology and information technology. Compounds words using phə1nak4ŋaan1 and caaw3naa3thii3 display modes of living that focus on security in the workplace and, usually, working in large government units or companies. This is because, at present, one depends entirely on monthly payment so as to meet everyday necessities of life.
In conclusion, the study shows that the evolution of a set of words can illustrate both linguistic development and socio-economic development.
(Presented in the 2020 Chulalongkorn Asian Heritage Forum : Thai-Tai Language and Culture, 20 July 2020, The St.Regis Hotel, Bangkok, organized by Institute of Thai Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Department of Thai, Department of Linguistics, Southeast Asian Linguistics Research Unit, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University)