Abstract:
This research aims to analyze and compare the tone system of Chanthaburi Thai dialect with Standard Thai by using acoustic mechanics. The data were collected from informants in 10 districts of Chanthaburi province. Each district consisted of 4 informants. The informants in this research were 40 in total. The analysis of the tone system used the concept of the tone test box, Gedney (1972), to study the variation of tone sounds. The analysis of tone phonetics used the PRAAT program to analyze and display the fundamental frequency values and convert them to semitone values. The results of the research found that Chanthaburi Thai dialect has 9 districts with sounds. There are 5 tone units in Amphoe 1, Kaeng Hang Maeo District, 2, Pong Nam Ron District, 3, Khao Soi Dao District, 4, Tha Mai District, 5, Khlung District, 6, Makham District, 7, Tha Mai District, 8, Na Yai Am District, and 9, Mueang Chanthaburi District. It consists of the following tone units: Tone 1, semi-low middle [23], Tone 2, low-low middle branch [213], Tone 3, semi-high low-low middle [414], Tone 4, semi-low middle half-high [234], Tone 5, low-high middle branch [253], and there is 1 Amphoe with 4 tone units, which is Laem Sing District. It consists of the following tone units: tone 2, mid-low [213], tone 3, mid-low, middle [323], tone 4, mid-high [43], tone 5, mid-high. [435] In addition, the Chanthaburi Thai dialect also has different tonal variations in each district. From the comparison of the results of the study, it was found that the Chanthaburi Thai dialect tone system has variations in tones from the Standard Thai language in every district.