A Contrastive Study of Thai and Vietnamese Word Order among Vietnamese Students

Abstract

This study aims to (1) examine the contrasts in word order within sentence structures between Thai and Vietnamese, and (2) analyse the advantages and limitations of Thai sentence word order among Vietnamese students. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining documentary analysis with quantitative data from an 18-item test and qualitative error analysis. The participants are 31 second-year Vietnamese students majoring in Thai Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. The findings indicate that (1) Thai and Vietnamese share a basic S-V-O structure but differ in micro-structural aspects, particularly in the placement of modifiers and connectors, and (2) students made the highest number of errors in compound sentences, totaling six sentences (42.86%). This was followed by simple and complex sentences, with four erroneous sentences each (28.57%), respectively. Students demonstrated greater accuracy in word order arrangement in simple and complex sentences than in compound sentences, largely due to the structural similarity of the basic S–V–O pattern and the more constrained positioning of modifiers and conjunctions. These difficulties were primarily attributable to negative transfer from the learners’ first language. The findings contribute to improving Thai language instruction for Vietnamese learners.