Southern Thailand shadow plays: Language movement in a multicultural society

Abstract

This article discusses changes in shadow plays in southern Thailand’s multicultural society, especially from a language in a multicultural context perspective, multicultural society inevitably leads to contact in terms of language, culture and way of life. These contacts cause continuous changes in many aspects of society, including changes in the folk arts. Southern Thailand’s shadow plays are a form of folk art that has changed as a result of multicuturalism. The study founded that shadow plays in this region have modified their presentation format in order to appeal to a larger, more multicultural audience by using a variety of methods, such as performing in central Thai or foreign languages and adjusting the plays to make them move contemporary. These changes served to make the shadow plays a dynamic part of southern Thailand diverse society.