A Comparative Corpus-Driven Study of Thai and English Country Songs

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Published: Jul 29, 2024
Keywords:
corpus linguistics critical discourse analysis country songs lyric analysis gender equality

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Waranya Opasee
Foreign Language Division, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University, Thailand
Punyapa Boontam
Foreign Language Division, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University, Thailand

Abstract

This study investigated the thematic content of Thai and English country songs, shedding light on commonalities and distinctions in the cultural ideologies across cultures. Using a corpus-driven approach, the lyrics of 200 Thai and 200 English country songs were compiled and examined by analysing the collocational patterns and concordance lines of the top 20 most frequent nouns. The results suggest that Thai country songs emphasize LOVE AND RELATIONSHIP, LIFE AND PEOPLE, NATURE, SORROW, BODY ORGANS, and PROMISE. English country songs feature themes like LOVE AND RELATIONSHIP, LIFE AND PEOPLE, TIME, PLACES, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS, RELIGION, and BODY ORGANS. Findings reveal that Thai and English country songs share some common themes but exhibit notable distinctions, as Thai songs often focus on societal struggles. In contrast, English songs portray life with a sense of hardship and self-reliance. The influence of love and family values is more prevalent in Thai songs, while English songs often rely on alcohol and God in their narratives. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of these themes in both cultures, offering a novel perspective on the thematic content of country songs.

Article Details

How to Cite
Opasee, W., & Boontam, P. (2024). A Comparative Corpus-Driven Study of Thai and English Country Songs. LEARN Journal: Language Education and Acquisition Research Network, 17(2), 69–94. Retrieved from https://so04.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/LEARN/article/view/274073
Issue
Vol. 17 No. 2 (2024): LEARN Journal (July-December)
Section
Research Articles
Author Biographies

Waranya Opasee, Foreign Language Division, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University, Thailand

Lecturer, Division of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University, Nakhon Sawan, Thailand. Her areas of research interest include Critical Discourse Analysis and English Language Teaching.

Punyapa Boontam, Foreign Language Division, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University, Thailand

Assistant Professor, Division of Foreign Languages, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Nakhon Sawan Rajabhat University, Nakhon Sawan, Thailand. Her areas of research interest include Corpus Linguistics and Critical Discourse Analysis.