Open AccessLanguage Vitality and Langauge Attitude of the Karen Ethnic Group in the Western Region of Thailand: A Preliminary Report
Author(s) -
Somsonge Burusphat,
Sumittra Suraratdecha,
Patama Patpong,
Amon Saengmanee
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
manusya
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.104
H-Index - 1
eISSN - 2665-9077
pISSN - 0859-9920
DOI - 10.1163/26659077-01302005
Subject(s) - ethnic group , vitality , tourism , ethnic culture , ethnic community , first language , gender studies , sociology , psychology , political science , anthropology , linguistics , philosophy , theology , law
This paper presents preliminary findings of the research project entitled “Ethnicity, Language, Culture and Ethnic Tourism Development.” It has three goals. First, it aims to identify the Karen language spoken in six provinces in the western region of Thailand, namely, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Suphan Buri, and Nakhon Pathom. The next goal is to explore Karen language use and attitudes towards languages of the wider community. The final goal is to evaluate the development of sustainable ethnic tourism in the region. A preliminary survey of language use and attitude of Karen people towards the Karen language and Ethnic Tourism Development (ETD) in these six provinces was carried out using a qualitative approach. Thirty subjects made up of local administrators and community leaders were interviewed using two kinds of guided questionnaires, community and personal questionnaires.