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mesolectal level. Indeed, the acrolect and mesolect varieties are considered New Englishes such as
Singapore English, but users of the mesolectal varieties are the largest in the societies of New
Englishes. Meanwhile, the basilect variety has been controversial for its status as part of New Englishes
since it is the lowest one such as Singlish (the basilectal variety of Singapore English). After the analysis
using the framework, it will be interpreted with support from previous studies. Moreover, the guides’
attitudes towards their mesolectal Thai English will be discussed, leading to an interpretation for an
existence of Thai English used by Thai tour guides.
Research Methodology
The methodology section presents the sampling method, subjects, instruments, data collection, and
data analysis of the study.
1.
Sampling method
In this qualitative study, in-depth data from language samples were gathered from tour guides
along the Andaman Sea. As there are many tour guides in the area, a certain number of informants
were selected using a ‘snowball sampling’ or a chain referral method (Biernacki & Waldorf, 1981),
especially via the guides’ friends and associations. To implement this sampling method, a set of criteria
for particular tour guides was given: (i) they are English-speaking Thai guides; (ii) they are licensed tour
guides; (iii) they can be freelance guides or have been working for certain agencies registered in the
Thai Authority of Thailand; and (iv) they have at least one year working experience in island and sea
trips.
2.
Research subjects
The subjects consisted of 12 tour guides working in 12 tour agencies in the area. At least two
guides directing the same trip were selected; the data gathered from the samples in the related data
source of island, beach and sea trips were repeated for a comparison.
Hence, the 12 tour guides
consisted of four persons from each of the three provinces. There were same two trips in each
province joined by the researcher. The subjects’ background information, tour programs and agencies
are described in Table 1.
Table 1: Background Information, Tour Programs and Agencies of the Tour Guides
No
Tour Guide
Gender
Age
Highest Educational
Level
Year(s) of
Working
Experience
Province
of the Workplace
Trips/Tour
Programs
Tour Agency’s Name
1
Guide A
Male
47
Grade 12 (Mathayom 6)
20
Krabi
PhiPhi Islands
Ao Nang Orchid
2
Guide B
Male
27
Bachelor’s Degree
(Tourism Industry)
6
Krabi
PhiPhi Islands
Chokpaisan Andaman
Tour
3
Guide C
Male
37
Grade 12 (Mathayom 6)
3
Krabi
Ao Thalane
(Kayaking)
Sea Kayak
4
Guide D
Male
34
Bachelor’s Degree
(Physical Education)
10
Krabi
Ao Thalane
(Kayaking)
For Friends
5
Guide E
Male
37
Bachelor’s Degree
(Computer Science)
3
Pang-nga
Similan Islands
Similan Pro Dive
6
Guide F
Male
28
Grade 12
(Mathayom 6)
5
Pang-nga
Similan Islands
Check-in Andaman
7
Guide G
Male
48
High Vocational Certificate
20
Pang-nga
James Bond
Islands
Phuket Raina Travel
8
Guide H
Male
32
Bachelor’s Degree
(Marketing)
8
Pang-nga
James Bond
Islands
Phuket Sunny Infinity
Tour
9
Guide I
Male
39
Bachelor’s Degree
(English)
10
Phuket
Racha Island
Raya Father
10
Guide J
Female
25
Bachelor’s Degree
2
Phuket
Racha-Coral Islands
Golden Region Travel
