Journals Unique Characteristics of the Text and Differences from Similar Genres

Abstract

This article examines 16 prose travel journals written in the reigns of King Rama V and King Rama VI in order to analyze the shared characteristics and highlight similarities and differences between journals and the literary genre with the most similar characteristics, namely traditional logs of journeys. According to the analysis, journals have seven unique characteristics: 1) they were personal travel journals, 2) they served as personal journ als and addressed no specific audience, 3) the actual dates and time were recorded,
4) the actual travel routes were recorded, 5) actions and experiences during the journeys were reported, 6) opinions were given in the journals, and 7) narrative techniques were used. The characteristics of journals in items 3-7 are similar to those of traditional logs of journeys, which originated before the term “journal” was first used in Thai language. However, the characteristics in items 1-2 are what distinguish journals from traditional logs of journeys. That is to say, these l ogs were not personal journals, but functioned as
government reports or official documents. Therefore, they were were limited to a specified audience or specific readers, namely kings or the government officials directly involved with the subject matter of these works. Thesedifferences indicate that journals have unique characteristics that differentiate them from other genres of writing. Therefore, journals can be considered a literary genre.