GIS technique as an indispensable tool in the real time study of dialect change: a case of the northeastern region of Thailand

For linguists, mapping a clear visual display of spatial change of dialects has been a challenging task. This article aims to present an alternative solution by which GIS and linguistics are incorporated to help improve quality of spatial analysis and map display in the study of dialect geography. Applied methodological flow with the exemplified application to the northeastern region of Thailand is illustrated. GIS’s spatial analysis functions are demonstrated to create and compare the dialect maps of 1979 and 2002. Result of the study exhibits as change-quantification maps showing the real time spatial change patterns of Thai dialects. The benefit of GIS is obvious as an indispensable tool for assisting linguists to better interpret and understand the spatial pattern of change with more confidence.