Abstract:
The objective of this thesis is to study the statistical distribution of consonants, vowels and tones in 3 types of Thai syllables: ones existing as words, ones existing as word constituents and other ones existing as both words and word constituents. The purpose of the research is to compare their patterns of distribution. The purpose of the research is to compare their patterns of distribution. The following variables: sets of phonemes, position in syllable, occurrence in short and long syllables, occurrence in live and dead syllables, and occurrence in different syllable structures, are taken into account. The results of the analysis are as follows: The patterns of distribution of the Thai consonants as a whole and that of the final consonants in 3 types of syllables are similar, whereas the pattern of distribution of the initial consonants in syllables existing as words is different from those existing as word constituents and those existing as both words and word constituents. The pattern of distribution of vowels in syllables existing as words is different from those existing as word constituents and those existing as both words and word constituents. The pattern of distribution of tones in syllables existing as words is different from those existing as word constituents and those existing as both words and word constituents. The initial consonants which occur most frequently are alveolars. The finial consonants which occur most frequently are velars. For the vowels, the low-central vowels /a a: occur most frequently. As for tones, the low level occurs most frequently. The results of statistical distribution of phonemes can be partly explained by historical and descriptive linguistics.