สำนักราชบัณฑิตยสภา

«“√ “√ √“™∫— ≥±‘ µ¬ ∂“π ªï ∑’Ë Û ©∫— ∫∑’Ë Ù µ.§.-∏.§. ÚıÙ¯ 1077 ™≈¥“ ‡√◊ Õß√— °…å ≈‘ ¢‘ µ Abstract A Case Study of Vocabulary in Thai Literature: Chamlaeng-insi, Chamlaeng-plaengkai, Chamlaeng-kai, Chamlaeng-rang and Other Words of Related Meanings Cholada Ruengruglikit Associate Fellow of the Academy of Arts, The Royal Institute, Thailand This investigation on the meanings and usage of Chamlaeng-insi, Chamlaeng-plaengkai, Chamlaeng-kai, and Chamlaeng-rang as a case study of vocabulary in Thai literature reveals that though these four words have the same structure and the same meaning as said in Thai dictionary, the poets interestingly classify and use them in two different meanings: transformation and disguise. Chamlaeng-insi, Chamlaeng-plaengkai, and Chamlaeng-kai are used in the sense of transformation while Chamlaeng-rang is used in the sense of disguise. The same result could be found in other related words which have the same structure and meaning as these four words, for those words are also classified to be used in two dissimilar meanings, namely the meaning of transformation and disguise. It is interesting as well to discover that among those words, Plaeng-ton and Plaeng-insi can actually be used in both meanings. Thus, from this study, it can be concluded that the diction used in Thai literature has wider and varied meanings than the words in current usage and dictionary. Accordingly, the meanings and usage of some words are not familiar or become unknown to modern Thais. For many readers, they simply assume the words are misspelled and some publishers innocently corrected some old words in Thai literature. Praweni and Insuan are good examples of this case as they were blindly and wrongly changed to Prapheni and Isuan respectively. A result of these changes is inevitably the disappearance of old Thai words from Thai language and literature. Modern scholars therefore should stop this careless correction of vocabulary in Thai literature and at the same time should disseminate old words in Thai literature to young readers. This method will not only increase the more profound and wider knowledge of the meanings and usage of old Thai words in several contexts among young people, but it also helps prevent these valuable words from disappearing from Thai literature, and the current usage of Thai language. Key words : Vocabulary in Thai literature, same words and related words with different meanings; words concerning transformation and disguise, the forbidden of careless changing of ancient words in Thai literature