The Analysis of Khmer Kinship Terms in Buri Ram Province

Abstract

     The purpose of this research is to conduct a survey of Khmer kinship terms spoken in Buri Ram province, to study the meaning of Khmer kinship terms using componential analysis methods, and to analyze the culture reflected in the Khmer kinship terms. The researcher used a combination of documentary and in-depth interviews. The Khmer kinship terms were derived from an interview with thirty Khmer informants. According to the study's findings, 28 Khmer kinship terms are spoken in Buri Ram province. There are 14 single-word kinship terms and 14 compound-word kinship terms in total. The definitions of kinship terms were classified into six categories: generation, lineage, gender, age, marriage, and remarriage. The culture was reflected in the Khmer kinship terms system spoken in Buri Ram province, which were comprised of five factors: the importance of seniority, an emphasis on genetic relatedness, preference for direct lineage, equal weight for mother, father, husband, and wife relatives, and equal weight for male and female relatives.