THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE IN THE LAWS

OF THE THREE SEALS

PUNCHAREE SORNSRISOM
THAI LANGUAGE PROGRAM, FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL
SCIENCES, MUBAN CHOMBUENG RATJABHAT

ABSTRACT
This research aims to investigate the sound change of Thai words, word types,
and word structure in the laws of the three seals and the correlation between the
language and culture. As a qualitative research, the research documents are
methodologically collected through original publication of Thammasat University and
Politics Department (revised edition) Framework analysis relates to language change
of August Scheicher and the relationship between language and culture of Glyn. Data
analysis reveals the different of sound change; initial consonants, cluster consonants,
monophthong, diphthong, final consonants, tone and word order. Lexically, the noun
is most changed in all of the laws of the three seals. Structurally, single words which
polysyllable indicate in the first laws of the three seals and compound words indicate
in the second and third in laws of the three seals. The language of the laws of the three
seals reveals many aspects of their social lives especially the early of Rattanakosin
period, 1) monarchy, three words, [sommuttirat or sommuttithap, junlajakaphat and
aphirom or aphirum], 2) the Thai administration, five words, [ yukrabat or yokrabat,
kin muang, naj vang, sakdina and ayat], 3) the management of Thai administration,
one word, [aiyakan, aayakarn or pra aiyakan], 4) the process of judgment, seven
words, [tralakarn or kralakan, thipphayan audonphayan and autariphayan, kodkhwam,
trasin, phuprab, saklongthadab and aowkrasian ayu or kanhmaitamkrasian ayu], 5) the
law enforcement and conviction, three words, [kumkaobaochalang, tralaengkang and
krammakorn], 6) the Buddhism, six words, [benjanakan, papaphikhu, athikorn,
amplang, prajiat and attaban], 7) the animal terms, fruit terms and equipment terms,
five words, [somthaenglin, naem, manaem, khaebngong, saithuram and ratha], 8) the
human behavior, seven words, [somjaorn, somjorn, hlobfak, autthalum, chalao, bao
and phaetsaya], 9) the commitment, one word, [chanchi], 10) the Thai inhabitant, one
word, [bua bao, bua nang], 11) the pays, tradition and living conditions of people, five
words, [julajol, samayumplaeng, phattharabot, phitthidulaphan and phitthitrong
prariang], 12) the legal authority, two words, [phudat and phathammarong], 13) the
incantational believe, two words, [krasiu, jakla, krahang chamob and rung
muangkhiumuang], 14) the family and kinship, one word, [aow a], 15) minority, city
and city relationship, eight words, [khula, masumsang, nakthet, muang nakhorn hlong,
muang chiang kran, muang rew kaew, muang ayoungtahna and muang worawari] and
16) the income and expenses of nation, one word, [khanon hlong]

KEY WORDS: THE LAWS OF THE THREE SEALS/LANGUAGE/SOCIETY