The Characteristic of Qualifiers of Color in Northern Thai Dialect

Abstract

The article on descriptive qualifiers of color in Northern Thai applies the concept of color by Berlin and Kay (1969) and a semantic analysis framework using the conceptual model by Ogden and Richards (1972). To examine the semantic features and the reflection of Northern Thai people's perspectives as expressed through qualifiers of color as examined in this study, the author collected data on primary color terms that appear with descriptive qualifiers, including white, red, green, black, and yellow, from the Lanna-Thai dictionary, amounting to a total of 23 terms.

The study found that the semantic features of these colors indicate associations with people, objects, behaviors, conditions, levels, quantities, sizes, ages, and areas. The author identified semantic features of colors that relate to people, such as white in expressions like “khao poed jae fae” (bright white) and “khao sun bun” (pure white); green in expressions like “khiew jum um” (deep green) and “khiew peut” (jade green); red in expressions like “daeng pa leung” (vivid red) and “daeng sang hang” (bright red); and black in expressions like “dam ki li” (inky black) and “dam kum mum” (dark black). Additionally, the meanings of colors that relate to objects appear across all five primary colors. Color meanings that describe conditions appear with white and red, while white primarily conveys state. However, Northern Thai color qualifiers provide insight into the Northern Thai people’s worldview, which places importance on the surroundings. The semantic patterns of color terms with qualifiers also reflect the culture and daily language use of Northern Thai people.