Buddhist Communication Innovation: Pali for the People

Abstract

This study had three objectives: 1) to examine the scripts that convey meanings in Pali; 2) to develop a Buddhist communication innovation, Pali for the People, and (3) to present the Buddhist communication innovation, Pali for the People. The research employed a qualitative approach, integrating documentary research and field research. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with key informants, including 12 administrators and faculty members from Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University. The data were then analyzed using content analysis and presented through descriptive-analytical methods.

The findings revealed as follows: 1) The scripts conveying meanings in Pali consist of four interrelated types: (1) Thai script, comprising 41 characters, used conventionally as symbols representing sounds; (2) Brahmi script, with a number of characters corresponding to those in the Thai script used for writing Pali; (3) Greek script, consisting of 24 characters; and (4) Latin script, consisting of 26 characters. The Brahmi, Greek, and Latin scripts all employ an alphabetic writing system. 2) The development of the Buddhist communication innovation, Pali for the People, comprises: (1) the sequence of scripts used to convey Pali meanings, namely Thai, Brahmi, Greek, and Latin scripts; and (2) the presentation of vocabulary according to interrelated categories, including examples of synonymous words and the grouping of diverse terms with the same meaning into a single category. 3) The presentation of the Buddhist communication innovation, Pali for the People, comprises: (1) displaying the elements (dhātu) and their meanings in Pali using Thai script, along with Thai translations and illustrative examples; (2) transliterating the Thai script into Brahmi, Greek, and Latin scripts in sequence; (3) comparing the phonetic correspondences of the scripts based on basic sound similarities and established transliteration formulas; and (4) verifying the meanings of Pali terms transliterated into Latin script using etymological methods and presenting their meanings in English.