Journal of Language and Culture

Endangered Tibeto-Burman languages of Thailand

2023-12-29T20:55:28+07:00

There are three endangered indigenous Tibeto-Burman languages of Thailand: Bisu (bzi), Mpi (mpz) and Gong (ugo). Bisu is spoken in Chiang Rai Province, Mpi in Phrae and Nan provinces, and Gong in Suphanburi and Uthai Thani provinces. All are Burmic languages: Bisu and Mpi are Southern Ngwi (Yi Branch, Loloish) languages and Gong is a Burmish language.

The history of Bisu and Mpi is known from traditional stories. The Mpi came from southwest Yunnan and served as elephant keepers for the Princes of Phrae from over 200 years ago; the Bisu came from Kengtung State in northeast Burma to the south of the Chiang Rai area about 170 years ago. Bisu is still spoken in two villages north of Kengtung and one village nearby in Yunnan; other closely-related languages include Laomian further north; also further east, Sangkong in Yunnan and Phunoi in Laos, also known as Côông in Vietnam. Bi-Ka Hani languages closely related to Mpi are spoken in south Pu’er Prefecture in south Yunnan, but no Mpi is spoken there. The Gong were in the Kanchanaburi area about 240 years ago, as tributaries to the restored Chakri Dynasty, under the name Lawáa; no Gong are now known outside Thailand. Until recently, the Bisu and Mpi were known in Northern Thai as Lua’, a collective name for small tribal groups which mainly refers to various small groups speaking Mon-Khmer languages; the Gong were also included in this category.

There have been various efforts for language documentation and maintenance with all three groups. The Bisu effort has been particularly long-standing and intense, the Gong effort has been long-standing but less intense, and for Mpi the effort started well but stopped many years ago when the trained in-group worker passed away. These three languages are a part of Thailand’s rich linguistic history, and the communities need both official support and ongoing expert linguistic assistance to strengthen their languages.

The glocalization and representation of the metropolis and the countryside in Korean Drama Hometown Cha Cha Cha and Malaysian novel Between Lives

2023-12-29T22:07:16+07:00

This article examines the glocalization and representation of the metropolis and the countryside in Korean drama Hometown Cha Cha Cha and a Malaysian novel Between Lives. Despite the difference of its geographical landscape, these two selected stories share similar genre of the so-called returning to the countryside plot. For research methodology, glocalization ideology, Stuart Hall’s representation theory and Julia Kristeva’s Intertextuality are employed in conducting research. The objectives are to contrastively compare the plot, characters, theme, dictions and effects towards audiences between the drama and the novel, to analyze and theorize the process of glocalization in the drama and the novel and to extract the representation of the metropolis and the countryside. Research results reflect the localism as a process in its glocalization strategy. In this context, practicing glocalization needs localism in commodifying the culture and the countryside. Thus, the presentation of hometown and native land brings the protagonists back to their childhood memories and experiences. This article reveals the representation of metropolis and capitalism as villains and the representation of the countryside as healer. Besides, elderly women play important role in both stories as the spirit and wisdom of the village.

“The Image of China” and Subjectivity of People's Ethnic Representation Choices: A Case Study on Nishi-Kawaguchi New Chinatown, Japan

2023-12-29T22:11:24+07:00

Chinatown has long been the subject of study as a cultural concentration point for Chinese immigrants. Historically, Chinatown studies have focused on the analysis of their function as a community agglomeration point, but in recent years Chinatowns have come to be seen as the result of the host society projecting a reified imagine of China onto a particular geographic area regardless of whether Chinese people live there or not. This paper first reviews the images projected onto Chinatowns around the world. It will then attempt to add a new perspective to the group of studies related to the imposition of the image of China on Chinatown by the host society by examining the Nishi-Kawaguchi district in Japan, where newcomer Chinese gather. What became clear from the qualitative research on media interviews with diverse subjects living in New Chinatown in this paper was the process by which local people proactively select Chinatown discourses from diverse discourses, a process that has been overlooked in the "Chinatown production from above" presented in previous studies.

Clustering and evolution of phonological systems across languages in Coastal East Asia

2023-12-29T22:14:13+07:00

The present study employs a quantitative method to investigate phonological profiles of languages spoken across the coastline of East Asia, ranging from the Chukotka Peninsula to the Malay Peninsula. The sampling includes 264 linguistic varieties from 17 different genealogical units. 20 typological features related to various domains of phonology, including qualities and contrasts in vowels and consonants, as well as components in the syllable structure and tones are considered. Attention is paid to three points of focus: areal distribution, diachronic change, and learnability. Across Coastal East Asia, there is a north-south divide running across the boundary between Northeast and Southeast Asia. Within these zones, numerable groups of languages share similar phonological features and thereby form Sprachbünde, the formation of which can be traced back to the existence of (pre)historical political entities, population movements and subsequent encounters among speakers of different language families. Under areal diffusion, languages in contact have acquired similar tendencies of retention and innovation for individual phonological features, resulting in deviation across cognate languages spoken in different Sprachbünde. In several cases, a statistical method reveals an obvious signal of particular language families being the source of areal patterns. Among the phonological features under investigation, several features have a lower degree of learnability, especially among L2 speakers in the scenario of language shift, and this is largely due to typological differences from their L1. Cross-cutting between areality and learnability, those features with a higher degree of complexity, such as consonant clusters, tend to reveal more clearly the area-specific tendencies.

A look at typological influences in the development of switch-reference systems in Highlands Papua New Guinea and Australia

2023-12-29T22:27:21+07:00

In this paper I describe the main characteristics of switch-reference systems of two regions, Highlands Papua New Guinea and Australia and show how certain underlying, general typological characteristics of languages of these regions inform and shape the nature of their switch-reference morpho-syntax and its paths of development through time. A core aspect of the differing characteristics of switch-reference systems of New Guinea and Australia is the predominating type of clause combining structure of each region, clause chaining in New Guinea vs clause embedding in Australia. I claim that this basic distinction is the basis through which the differing manifestations of switch-reference systems in each region develop diachronically.

Epigraphs on seals in Southern Thailand: Concrete evidence of the India’s earliest contact with Suvarṇabhūmi

2023-12-29T22:30:00+07:00

This research article explores the significance of eleven seals and beads inscribed with Maurya Brahmi script discovered in the upper regions of southern Thailand. These artifacts, ranging from the 3rd century BCE to the 1st century CE, provide tangible evidence of early contact between India and Southeast Asia or Suvarṇabhūmi at the time. The study examines the origins and provenance of these epigraphs, highlighting their role in tracing the spread of Buddhism through trade routes. Furthermore, it investigates the influence of different castes, particularly the Vaishya and goldsmith castes, in promoting Buddhism and the intriguing presence of Brahmin-related inscriptions. By shedding light on the local artisans’ errors and the abundance of uninscribed seals, this article offers insights into the active trade network and cultural exchanges that shaped the region during the earliest period.

Proto-Parallels between Early Korea, Thailand and Cambodia

2023-12-30T21:14:48+07:00

This article explores parallel discourses of state formation and transitions to early history between two distinct regions of Asia: Mainland Southeast Asia with a focus on Thailand and Cambodia, and southeastern Korea. Across these regions it compares the archaeology and interpretative discourse of material cultures formative to the following early entities: Dvāravatī (central Thailand), Pre-Angkor (Cambodia and northeast Thailand), and Silla and Kaya (Korea). It argues that for both regions the period of the fourth to fifth centuries can be treated as one in which the cultures were at a proto-state level of complexity. This period is characterized by the dovetailing of two trajectories: continuity from preceding periods, and incipient state-level developments. Calibrating Korean scholarship, this article correlates the ‘Proto-Three Kingdoms’ period used in archaeology to the former, and current discourse of ‘incipient statehood’ (ch’ogi kukka) to the latter. For Pre-Angkor and Silla, the archaeology can additionally be correlated to proto-historical elites evinced from earliest epigraphy and other proto-historiographical sources (transmitted accounts). Based on these parallels, this article contends that the political geography of the cultures can be defined as ‘semi-protected regions’ and that their synchronized trajectories to early state and charter-hood provide a case for a trans-Asian proto-historical period.

A study of international news reports on Thailand: Implications to soft power and nation branding

2023-12-30T21:32:54+07:00

This paper aims to determine how the international community perceives Thailand in light of the Thai government’s recent efforts to brand itself through so-called soft power by analyzing news coverage of Thailand. The study contains data on Thailand’s news from the foreign press between October 1, 2021, and April 30, 2022. The news essence is divided into 11 main themes based on data gathered from 27 foreign news agencies and 1,755 news clippings about Thailand. The main concerns fall under the following 11 themes: (1) Economy and investment; (2) International relations and cooperation; (3) Tourism; (4) Public health; (5) Politics, security, and domestic affairs; (6) Sports, culture, and entertainment; (7) Natural resources and environment; (8) Human resource development, rights and freedoms, and equality; 9) Welfare and quality of life; 10) Science, technology, and innovation; and (1) Other news. Economics and investment are the issues that respond most favorably to Thailand’s 20-year national plan. Thailand is a production basis to attract international investment, diversify tourism, and innovatively showcase beneficial parts of Thai culture. Through artists and entertainment media, it presents Thai values and culture and uses soft power to improve the nation's image. Additionally, it contributes to the national plan for capacity building and human resource development and generating economic value in the current circumstances.

Politics, national security, and international collaboration concerning Thailand's national security plan are other topics frequently discussed in international media. The country can improve its international status, fortify its foreign connections, and eventually gain economic rewards using its soft power. Thailand is expected to be able to adapt to the global trends that it may capitalize on its so-called "cultural soft power" to tap into, whether they include technology in virtual entertainment or tourism or even in cyber, economic, or lifestyle avant-garde. Thailand has to deal with internal political issues that might damage its reputation as a peaceful country.

Language strategies on digital platforms for promoting Hakka revitalization in Thailand

2024-01-04T20:58:28+07:00

In the 21^st century, it is undeniable that digital technology is very advanced and essential in daily life. Therefore, online platforms or virtual activities are necessary for learning, especially for those who have to work or study from home. The Hakka language inheritance group for one are not give up promoting Hakka language revitalization. They are continuing to learn and teach Hakka vocabularies, conversations, and story- telling bilingually (Hakka-Thai) via several digital platforms. The main goal of this group is to disseminate Hakka language and to increase the number of Hakka speakers in Thailand. The objective of this paper is to present a variety of Hakka language strategies that are available on social media platforms. The author has collected data from participatory and non-participatory observations, the content of which was sourced from numerous digital platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Line. It is very noteworthy that there is such a large group of Hakka descendants interested in reviving the Hakka language. They have started making video clips with Hakka words that are still remembered from their childhood but not used since. The results show that the most view of YouTube channel is the clip video about “Yok Hua restaurant’s food” (3,247 views). Like the Facebook page ‘Siamlo kakka ngin’, there are a lot of comments and shares when posting about food. This may reflect the fact that food is more relevant to daily life than other issues.

Zhoutun

2023-12-30T21:51:41+07:00