Pickled fish: Communication and Reproduction of meanings of friendship in Thai - Lao Relations

Abstract

This article aims to explore the constructed meaning of pickled fish in Thai society, the communication process and reproduced meaning of friendship through pickled fish in Thai-Lao relations by adopting documentary analysis, in-depth interview and textual analysis as the primary qualitative methods. The study shows two sets of meaning which has been given to pickled fish, positive and negative meaning which depending on the “emic” or “etic” viewpoint each individual obtained, and the 6 components of friendship’s message. Scope to the positive meaning, the result can be defined into four categories: 1. Way of life, local wisdom, knowledge of the woman and kinship relations 2. representative images of Isan-ness and Laos-ness 3. A local product and an imported product as souvenir and 4. The source of income and the connectedness of tourism. The study indicates that these four categories of meaning constructed a friendship between Thai and Lao relationships.