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«“√ “√ √“™∫— ≥±‘ µ¬ ∂“π ªï ∑’Ë Û ©∫— ∫∑’Ë Ò ¡.§.-¡’ .§. ÚıÙ¯ 167 «‘ ®‘ πµπå ¿“≥ÿ æß»å Abstract Dialect Words in Thai Doublets Vichin Panupong Associate Fellow of the Academy of Arts, The Royal Institute, Thailand This paper aims to study the use of dialect words in Thai doublets which consist of two words with different sounds but similar meanings. Examples of this type of doublets are drawn from research works on four Thai dialects, i.e. Khorat dialect, Rayong dialect, Songkhla dialect, and Nakhon Si Thammarat dialect. It is found in this study that there are four types of doublets as below. 1. The doublets in the Bangkok dialect which consist of a Bangkok dialect word followed by a word in one of the four dialects listed above. 2. The doublets in the Bangkok dialect which consist of a dialect word in one of the three dialects, i.e. the Khorat dialect, Rayong dialect and the Songkhla dialect, followed by a Bangkok dialect word. 3. The doublets in the Bangkok and Khorat dialects which consist of a Bangkok dialect word and a Khorat dialect word occurring either in the first or the second position. 4. Each of the two words in the doublets used in the Bangkok dialect can be used in isolation in the Nakhon Si Thammarat and Songkhla dialects. These facts support Phya Anumanrajadhon’s claim that the words used in doublets are old Thai words one of which functions to modify the other. Since the modifying word does not contribute a substantial meaning to the doublet, its meaning is likely to be bleached. Some modifying words lose their meanings eventually and disappear from the Bangkok dialect. However, they still exist in other dialects. Key words : dialect, doublets