Shared Words, Shared Struggles: Exploring Burmese Migrants’ Experiences in Thailand Through Workplace Language by

Main Question:

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How does a shared set of workplace vocabulary used by Burmese migrant workers in Thailand reflect their migration experiences, adaptation strategies, and structural challenges?

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Burmese background and student unionist experience help build trust and gain deeper insights.

Approach research as both a researcher and active listener, valuing participants' voices.

Stay open-minded and let workers' voices guide the research, avoiding assumptions from past activism.

Qualitative Approach

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To understand lived experiences through words.

Data Collection:

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Primary Data: Participant Observation, Semi-structured Interviews, Focus Group Discussion

Secondary Data: Social Media Platforms (Informal Discussion Channels)

Focus On:

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Workplace interaction words and the vocabulary used in daily tasks.

Informed consent and ensuring participants' anonymity and safety.

Record/Analyze:

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Commonly Used Terms: Their origins, meanings, usage, and contextual background.

(Khun Sirada, 2023)

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The distinction between refugees and economic migrants is increasingly blurred in the case of Myanmar migration to Thailand, as political instability pushes people out while labor demands simultaneously pull them in.

(Jenkins, 2015; Cogo & Dewey, 2012)

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Studies have shown that language used in intercultural workspaces is dynamic and adaptive, shaped by context and identity.

Workplace Vocabulary

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SMART(စမတ်): The fees that workers must pay to brokers or agents to secure employment.

PAUK(ပေါက်): Production targets.

WANA(ဝန): An officer responsible for overseeing a specific sector, such as sewing, cutting, or designing.

WANA GYI(ဝနကြီး): A senior officer who manages all WANAs across various sectors.

WANA LAY(ဝနလေး): A leader who manages a small group of 5-7 workers.

PHOELATTMAUNG(ဖိုးလက်မောင်း): A type of WANA, an officer specifically in industries like painting and construction.

LONENGAN(လုံငန်): Overtime work.

Migration Experience Vocabulary

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BAHT(ဘတ်): A set of legal documents for migrant workers in Thailand, which includes a passport, work permit, and pink card (Migrant Worker Card).

Thawmaw(တောမောင်း): Thai immigration police. The direct Burmese meaning refers to people chanting and leading animals in the jungle to guide them in desired directions.

Migrant workers are not ATM machines. (May Day, 2024)

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The connection between language and labor reflects migrants’ lived struggles, adaptation strategies, and social realities, giving voice to the workers themselves and offering new insights into the fields of migration and labor studies.

"8 Hours Work, 8 Hours Rest, 8 Hours for Hobbies or Personal Time."

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(Myanmar Migrant Workers, 2024)