The Khmer in Thai kinship systems in Mueang, Suphanburi province

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the characteristics and the meaning of kinship terms of Khmer dialect in Thailand with component analysis methods including to study the culture that is reflected from the kinship system in Khmer dialect in Thailand. The researcher collected the kinship information from Khmer dialect spoken in Thailand Based on the interview with the 6 Khmer ethnic language speakers divided into 3 male and 3 female speakers, Ban Samthong, Moo 1, Taling Chan Subdistrict, Mueang District, Suphan Buri Province.

The results of the study showed that the Khmer dialect in Thailand has a total of 26 kinship terms, 13 terms are single words and 13 terms are compound words. The meaning of the kinship terms were classified by the 6 different dimensions: Generation, Linearity, Sex, Age, Marriage and Remarriage.

The culture reflected in the kinship system in Khmer dialect in Thailand consist of 5 reasons: The importance of the senior system, Emphasis on genetic relatedness, Giving priority to a direct descendent, Giving equal importance to maternal, paternal, husbands and wives relatives and Giving equal importance to male and female relatives.