Women Terms in Khao Saw Literature: Meanings and Concepts

Abstract

This research article aims to analyze the meanings of women terms in Khao Saw literature and analyzes the concepts about women presented in this literary genre. The data is collected from Khao Saw literature editions published by Pratueng Wittaya printery edition (1968), Chiang Mai province totaling 5 stories. The research employs literary language approach, immediate constituent analysis, componential analysis, and conceptual analysis. The findings reveal that women terms in Khao Saw literature are predominantly used as the main words, amounting to 171 occurrences in 1,502 positions. The meaning of women terms in Khao Saw literature can be classified into 2 types: women terms with only one the feature [+woman] and women terms with the feature [+woman] and showing some associated characteristic feature. This can be divided into 7 groups of characteristics expressing different features, namely: feature [+beautiful appearance], feature [+youthful], feature [+has merit], feature [+has value], feature [+is loved], feature [+important], and feature [+intellectual].
As for concepts about women in Khao Saw literature can be broadly categorized into 2 main areas: women's physical beauty and women's characteristics. The realm of women's physical beauty can divide into 2 concepts, which are portraying a woman as an individual with a beautiful appearance and depicting women as youthful individuals, while the concept of women's characteristics can be divided into 5 concepts, which are perception of women as valuable entities, those who possess merit, beloved, intelligent, and important figures. Moreover, concepts about women in Khao Saw literature are interconnected, having women's characters with physical beauty and characteristics. In Khao Saw literature, both men and female characters engage in relationships that mutually support each other.