Economic city and nicknaming change of Lao people in Vientiane Laos PDR

ECONOMIC CITY AND NICKNAMING CHANGE
OF LAO PEOPLE IN VIENTIANE LAOS PDR
Kanyarat Unthanon

Thai Department, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,
Khon Kaen University, Thailand

Abstract
The objectives of this research article are to describe the linguistic characteristics
employed for nicknaming Lao people who have inhabited in Vientiane, Laos PDR.
Interviewing as a data collection method was conducted from sample population, i.e., 60
Laotians, who were born and have domiciled in Vientiane Prefecture, were grouped into 3
age group as follows: Group 1 aged 41 - 60 years, Group 2 aged 21 - 40 years, and Group 3
aged 1 - 20 years. Each group, containing 20 people, was also divided equally by gender.
The results of this study revealed that Group 1 entirely assumes the nickname by
using only one syllable whereas Group 2 and Group 3 have their nicknames with the
formation of both one syllable and two syllables. As for the sources of nicknaming, it found
that the most outstanding characteristic of Group 1 is to adopt their nicknames by modifying
their real name into the diminutive form while the most dominant feature of Group 2 is to
nickname according to physical features. And the most notable quality of Group 3 is to
nickname by adopting English words. In regard to semantic formation of nicknaming, it
revealed that the most outstanding characteristic in meaning of Group 1 is to adopt words
representing physical features; Group 2 contains physically somaticized words, soundsymbolic words in English including English nouns; the most dominant feature of Group 3 is
to nickname by using sound-symbolic words in English and English nouns with direct
definition. Language change of nicknaming indicated in 3 sample groups mentioned,
constantly resulting from economic growth since 1986 as Lao PDR opened its doors to
international tourists and investors, considerably leads to foreign language and culture flow
into Lao PDR and significantly has an influence in language usage for nicknaming.
Keyword: Economic City, Language Change, Nicknaming, Lao People
1. Introduction
It is argued that the language study through words employed for assuming a name

of Lao people enables us to better comprehend the concept and belief of the local
expressing through semantic alphabetic character. The researcher used to examine naming
Lao people who reside in Vientiane Prefecture (Sarisa Unthanon, 2009) . Focusing on their
real names, it was observed that naming practices of Lao people have also changed
according to age group. It is also noteworthy that there are a wide range of studies on
nicknaming in Thailand such as Nanthana Ronnakiat (1988) investigated the nicknaming

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sources of students who studied at Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Liberal Arts,
Thammasat University. It was found that there were 11 sources provided for their
nicknames, namely, nicknaming based on milestones at birth, nicknaming based on
expectation, nicknaming based on the order in which they were born into the family,
nicknaming based on circumstances during pregnancy, nicknaming based on physical
features of babies, nicknaming based on melodiousness of foreign words, nicknaming
based on the first character in the father's, mother's, or sibling's name, nicknaming based
on sex characteristics, nicknaming based on things that the parents like, nicknaming based
on luck and the belief that our new name will bring good luck and nicknaming based on a
contraction of their real name. Jarinya Thammachoto (1997), later studied on the language
usage employed for nicknaming of Thai people in Mueang district, Trang province,
focusing on phoneme, linguistic origins and meaning used for the local‘s nicknames by
collecting data from sample population divided into 2 generations, i.e., parent‘s generation
and children‘s generation. The result of this study regarding phoneme revealed that both
generations assumed a nickname based on the same tone most, following by the same
initial consonants and final consonants respectively. In connection with the linguistic
origins, it was found that parent‘s generation come up with nicknames by employing Thai
language most, whereas children generation, English words provide a more fertile source
for nicknames than Thai words. In regard to connotation of nicknaming, it was revealed
that both generations prefer to nickname based on physical feature connotation most. In

2002, Sutthasinee Chaikarn conducted a research concerning language usage used for
nicknaming Thai people originating from varieties of ethnic group in Mueang Samut
Sakhon, Samut Sakhon province, consisting of Central Thai, Mon, Tai Isan and Tai Song by
investigating the linguistic origins, number of syllable, language and connotation of
nicknames. It is found that the belief and values of each ethnic group expressed through
nicknaming practices. It is also consistent with the results of the study of Charinya
Thammachoto, i.e., in connection with the number of syllable, it is found that one syllable
was used to nickname most, in regard to the language, it is found that Thai language was
employed to provide their nicknames most, as for connotation, it is revealed that connotation
concerning with physical feature of a person was used most to nickname. Based on the
results of study, Sutthasinee demonstrated that different kind of ethnic group hardly had
significantly difference in their belief and values for nicknaming owing to passing on
culture, belief and values of Central Thai spreading to Mon, Isan and Tai Song already.
Based on the researches concerning nicknaming of Thai people mentioned above
together with I used to conduct the research concerning naming the real name of Lao
people (Sarisa Unthanon, 2009 and 2010), I significantly observe the change in naming
according to age group, namely, the older people group assumed their names with fewer
syllables than those of the younger people group. It is more likely that the younger people
group employed Pali and Sanskrit to assume a name whereas the older people group
preferred to use Lao words for their nicknames have been employed for their names. In
addition, connotation that was mostly used to name Lao people has connoted to gold and
precious and valuable objects more than other connotation in every age groups. The results

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of studies on nicknaming mentioned above and the results of study on naming of Lao
people (Sarisa Unthanon, 2009 and 2010) causes I as a researcher am very interested in
conducting a research concerning nicknaming of Lao people that I am convinced that it
reflects characteristics of language usage changes in the aspects of grammar and

connotation compared with the study on naming the real name. It is because Vientiane
prefecture as the capital city of Laos, has dramatically changed since 1986 with the open
door policy; witnessing mountain of increasing skyscraper and tall buildings, modern
department stores, shops, restaurants in the western styles appearing a wide range signs
written and printed in English or dually English and Lao letter on it, including influences
from mass media like radio, television, printing media as well as digital media flocking to
Lao PDR considerably, regardless of necessity of learning English for Lao people to seek a
better job to catch up with the rapid economic growth and to meet labor demand that
English communication skill. I thus assumed that these growth and development
economically and socially may lead to create values of English usage for Lao people
including values of adopting English language to nickname for their children. I have tried
to seek the findings by collecting data conducted from interviewing sample population who
were 60 Lao people and domiciled in Vientiane prefecture, dividing into 3 group of age as
follows: Group 1 aged 41- 60 years, Group 2 aged 21-40 years and Group 3 aged 1-20
years. Each group, containing 20 people, was also divided equally by gender, focusing on
characteristics of language usage for nicknaming, syllable structures, sources of
nicknames, including connotation of nicknames.
2. Characteristics of language usage in nicknaming and the meaning of nickname
As for the structure of number of syllable, it revealed that there are 2 types of
syllable structure found in Lao people‘s nickname residing in Vientiane prefecture, i.e.,
one syllable structure and two syllable structure . The one syllable structure that is found
most in the formation of nicknaming is the one syllable structure such as Tui, Joi, Noi,
Lek, Yai, Lee, Chan, Phan, Wan, Boun, Son, Aud, Khid, Kan, Phon, Mae, James, A,
Moon, Jan, etc. and following by two syllable structure such as Tukta, Tudtoo, Zicko,
Dodo, Jonly, Didi, Julie, Jiji, Mini, Nova, Panda, E-bay, Cherry, etc. When examining
syllable structure based on 2 social factors, that is to say, age and gender, it is thus found
that the age plays the significant role designating the syllable structure of nicknaming; two
syllable structures is considerably found more in senior people group than younger people
group. Whereas gender factor hardly influences syllable structure as the data found
indicates that male and female people assume their name equally in both one syllable

structure and two syllable structure.
There are mostly popular sources provided for Lao people‘s nicknames sorting
these four popular sources in order from most to least: 1) Nicknames based on a shortening
of a person's proper name such as Thonglee-Lee, Thongchan-Chan, Khamphan-Phan,
Suwan- Wan, Wannason-Son, Sukan-Kan, Khonsawan-Wan, Saengphet-Phet, ManeewanWan, Sisomphon-Phon, Suwanna-Na, Tingkham-Ting, Wannason-Son, Uttha-Ut, Khamphon
-Phon, and so forth. 2) Nicknaming based on physical features such as Joi (thin), Noi

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(small), Tui (fat), Lek (small), Yai (big), Lae (purple-blue), Ngon (round head), Le (soft),
Tadam (black eyes), etc. 3) Foreign words are taken straight from English names, such as
May, James, A, Moon, Jan, Mini, Nova, Panda, E-bay, Cherry. And 4) Nicknaming based
on English sound articulation such as Jonly, Didi, Julie, Jiji, Dodo, Toto, Jojo etc.
With respect of nickname meaning based on employing age as a variable factor, it is
found that Group 1 prefer to adopt words connoting physical feature of children most such
as Joi (thin) , Noi (small), Tui (fat), Lek(small), Yai (big), Lae (purple-blue), Ngon (round
head), Le (soft), Tadam (black eyes), etc. whereas Group 2 prefer to adopt words
connoting physical feature semantics and English sound articulation most such as Lek
(small), Yai (big), Jonly,Didi, Juli, Jiji, Dodo, Toto, Jojo, Jonly. On the other hand, Group
3 prefer to adopt English nouns with direct meaning most such as May, James, A, Moon,
Jan, Mini, Nova, Panda, E-bay, Cherry.
3. Epilogue
Nicknaming of Lao people has significantly changed all the time up till now. In the
past, there had been no nicknaming practices in Lao society; a proper name or real name‘s
person denomination only has been available. Influenced by Western languages and tradition
of nicknaming, Lao people then has adopted nicknaming practices for their children. Initially,
contraction of their real names had been done, and then nicknaming practices gradually have
been not related with a person‘s real name. Nicknames for Lao people usually contain only
one syllable owing to easiness and expedience for calling but at the present, nicknaming

based on two syllables has increasingly been common. Nevertheless, nicknaming based on
only one syllable has still been popular and it is noticeable that transliteration of foreign
words has considerably made trendy particularly it has been adopted by most people who live
in area of capital city municipality; Vientiane, the place in which I collected data for
conducting the research. Experiencing the constant economic and technological growth as the
center of country‘s development, Western languages and cultures unavoidably have
influenced nicknaming by adopting foreign languages as the nicknames for their children. As
referred to data conducted from interviewing native speakers, they give reasons why they
prefer to nickname their children by using English words because they think that it sounds
more modern and the euphony of English sound articulation as well as parents in general have
a sense of pride when calling their children with nicknames originated from English words
because it is associated with higher social status
The results of this study thus indicated that rapid economic growth in a row in Lao
PDR significantly brings about changes of Lao language. It is also evident that language
usage for nicknaming reflects changes in values of nicknaming of Lao people, for instance,
using increased number of syllables for nicknaming, including sources of nicknaming
based on increasingly changed factors ranging from older to younger generations.
Increasingly, foreign languages, particularly English words, providing a fertile source for
Lao people‘s nicknames, are considered as the new culture of Lao people nowadays, as
well as values of connotation contained in Lao people‘s nicknames have also considerably
changed from past to present.

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