A comparison of Thai and Vietnamese color terms

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to analyze and compare Thai and Vietnamese basic and non-basic color terms as well as to find out whether and how gender and age affected non-basic color terms. The data were collected from 60 Thai and 60 Vietnamese informants of both sexes in equal number. They were further divided into three age groups in each language: 15-29 years, 30-44 years and 45-60 years, and ten informants in each gender were selected from each age group. The study finding revealed that there were 12 Thai basic color terms and nine Vietnamese basic color terms. According to Berlin and Kay's (1969) Basic color term evolution, the evolution of Thai and Vietnamese basic color term is at stage 7, but with some differences. The Thai evolution is in line with that of Berlin and Kay's while, for Vietnamese it both support and against the theory. According to the theory, green and blue/ dark blue are separated colors in Stage V, but it remain GRUE in Vietnamese, which includes green /blue/dark blue together. Furthermore, there is no orange color in Stage VII in Vietnamese as the theory states. In the analysis of non-basic color terms, it is found that there are four types of non-basic color terms in both languages, They include (1) non-basic color terms derived from comparing, (2) from combining or modifying basic color terms, (3) from loan words, and (4) from non-basic color terms used for specific nouns. Regarding strategies informing non-basic color terms, it is revealed that both languages have four similar strategies. They are (1) combining basic color terms, (2) using words calling specific object as color terms, (3) modifying basic color terms, and (4) modifying non-basic color terms. However, Vietnamese has two more sub-strategies : (1) modifying nonbasic color terms (basic color term + basic color term +modifier), and (2) modifying non-basic color terms (loan word + basic color term). The analysis of social factors revealed that aged affected non-basic color term in Thai but did not in Vietnamese. N;