A Study of Folklore: A Determinant of Names of the Cana lsand Villages in Bangsaothong District, Samutprakarn Province

Abstract

This research aimed to the study the history and background as to how canals and villages were named along Bangsaothong District, Samut Prakan Province. It also aimed to study the roles and the importance of the canals that have been changing from the past to present. It is a qualitative research emphasizing on field work and documentation.
It
was found that most of the canals and villages in Bangsaothong District, Samut Prakan Province were named by people in the area using the names of some important people living in the canals or the unique features of the canals like the names of the plants in the area, the sizes or the directions of the canals, the topography of the areas, the animals, the structures, the behaviors, the instruments, and the beliefs or legends, respectively, to help people easily remember them for convenient communication and good understanding.
The roles and importance of the canals from the past to present have been changing according to the economic development of the country. The canals in the past which were used to be important as the original of the community, economic areas for people to earn their living, and the main communication routes, have become the economic growth with business areas, industries, and new villages of newcomers along the roads with urbanization. The villages along the canals have changed into semi-urban-rural societies.