Angkor: A Symbole of Cultural Prestige in Southeas Asia

A conference on the topic of Angkor A Symbole of Cultural Prestige in Southeas Asia was held on from 15-16 December, 2008 organized by Asia Research Center (ARC) of Royal Academy of Cambodia , sponsored by the Korean Foundation for Advanced Studies (KFAS). About 100 local and foreign scholars participated.

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Conference on Indegenous Minorities in Cambodia

National Conference on Preservation and Development of Language and Culture of Indegenous Minorities in Cambodia was held on November 24, 2008. The conference was organized by Institute of National Language ofRoyal Academy of Cambodia under the supported fund from Royal Government of Cambodia. About 100 International and local participants participated to hear interesting presentations done by researchers and scholars.

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The Socio-culture of Sa’och

By Mr. CHOM Sonnang, Presented in National Conference on Preservation and Development of Language and Culture of Indigenous Minorities in Cambodia, November 24, 2008,

Abstract

This paper is to take part in encouraging and preserving cultures of minorities in Cambodia. It is a follow up of “A Brief Description of the Sa’och Language” presented in the second conference on Research, Unity, and Development of Khmer Language on October 18, 2005, at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, Phnom Penh. It firstly starts with general situations of the study on indigenous in Cambodia, secondly is on the socio-culture of Sa’och. The data were collected from previous studies and through our fieldwork. The result shows that there is still a vague in categorizing the languages groups and the number of ethnic languages in Cambodia as well as Sa’och language. Regarding to the socio-culture of the Sa’och, the result shows that the Sa’och has a similar living to Cambodian in terms of norms, health care, traditions, and rites. It, therefore, can be implied that both the Sa’och and Cambodians almost have the same culture, which is called Proto-Indochinese Civilization or Austro-Asiatic Civilization by sociologists. A foremost note is ‘taking care of new born babies’. The Sa’och prefers to breastfeed a new born baby right after it is born with first-coming breast-milk, while Cambodians do not. Originally, the Sa’och was led by their chiefs, but this has changed and becomes distinct in the present time.

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Ethnomusicology

The 13 International Conference and Festival of Asia Pacific Society for Ethnomusicology (APSE)

Conference on Khmer Studies

International Conference on Cambodian Studies was held in Lai Thong Hotel, Ubon Rachathani, Thailand from 25-26 August 2008. The Conference is supported by Ubon Rachathani University Bureau of International Cooperation Strategy Commision on Higher Education. Papers and Articles related to Khmer Studies were presented by 21 speakers from Cambodia, Thailand and other foreigners. The conference was honorably participated by H.E. Dr. Touch Seng Tana, Secretary of State, Member of the Economic, Social and Cultural Observation Unit, Office of the Concil of Ministers of Cambodia, and Pro.Dr. Supote Prasertsri, Dean of Facutly of Education in Pannasastra University, Cambodia. On the 26th August of 2008 at about 5 am, the conference was finished successfully and harmonily under the closing remark speech by H.E Dr. Touch Seng Tana.

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Diversity of Languages in Thai Society

Scholars and Researchers from various provinces in Thailand presented their papers, articles and other lectures in a seminar held on June 26, 2008 in Mahasarakham University. The topic of the seminar "The diversity of Languages in Thai Society" is on languages in Thailand which are used in this country.

The Formation of Words Related to Rice
in Khmer and Thai Language

CHOM Sonnang

E-mail: snang_inl@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Rice is the important thing for most people of the world. Besides serving as food, it has influenced human communication and social life. The purpose of the study is to compare the lexical field of the word related to rice in Khmer and Thai. The article focuses on the use of term relating to the kind of rice, the rice growth, the use for rice, and word for rice production. Additionally, it is also to find out the influences of rice to the living standard, i.e. cultural life in both nations. It found that although Khmer and Thai languages belong to different language families, (Khmer belongs to the Austroasiatic family and the Thai language belongs to the Tai family), they share both similar and dissimilar concepts in using terms related to rice. According to the statistics of word and phrases, with a lexical contrastive analysis and morphological approach, it is found that Thai has one word for many kinds of rice to represent different kinds of rice. In contrast, Khmer has different words for rice: husk rice, cooked rice, much cooked rice (porridge), and so on. Other significant differences concerning rice terms in the two languages are also preserved by their morphological features. Furthermore, the article also deals with loan words which are mutually borrowed and cultural context influenced by rice.

2nd Southeast Asian Cultural Conference

The Asian Research Center (ARC) of Royal Academy of Cambodia recently hold its third International Conference, on December 13th, 2007 in Chatumuk theatre, Phnom Penh. The conference's main theme is of the Southeast Asian Cultural Values: Promoting Community Spirit whihc focuses on Promoting Cultural harmony and Cultural diversity among peoples, Promoting Linkages among Cultural and Educational Centers, and Other relevant Cultural issues.
There are scholars and researchers from 13 countries have joined in this conference. This conference is organizing from .(Detail is coming soon.)

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Cuam and the Beliefs of the Thai-Khmer

(Paper in Southeast Asian International Conference)
By SALEE Banyat

Department of Thai and Oriental Languages,
Humanity and Social Faculty, Mahasarakham University,
THAILAND

ABSTRACT

This technical article presents a view of the beliefs and ceremonial customs of the Thai-Khmer people of Thailand. The Thai-Khmer population is approximately 500,000. Most of them live in the northeastern border provinces near Cambodian. The majority of these people reside in the provinces of Ubon Rachthani, Srisaket, Surin, Buriram, Sa-Kaeo, Prachin Buri, Nakhon Rachasima, Chanthaburi, and Trat. Some of the population has moved as far from the border as Maha Sara Kham and Chachoengsao. Cuam tells us that these Thai-Khmer people believe in the past, particularly in relationship to its relevancy with the god Kru. They believe that Kru exists in the human body from birth until death. The god Kru has two forms. There is the Kru of birth and the teacher Kru. Kru of birth is honored by Thai-Khmer people in a unique ceremony called “Coul-Ma-Maut”. The ceremony is undertaken during periods of sickness. At present this ceremony is still practiced in some Thai-Khmer communities. Thai-Khmer groups in Ban Sway, Tanbon Sway , Amper Muang, in Surin Province are an example of these groups. This particular community affords interested parties an excellent opportunity to learn more about the way of life and the beliefs of the Thai-Khmer people.

Keyword : cuam, Thai-Khmer, Coul-Ma-Maut

The Artistic Handicrafts of the Ethnic Group from Tai-Lao-Khmer

By Mr. Chusak SUKARANANDANA
Department of Thai and Oriental Languages,
Humanity and Social Faculty, Mahasarakham University,
THAILAND
E-mail: chusak.s@msu.ac.th

ABSTRACT

The population in the Northeastern of Thailand, or called as, ‘Isan’, has originated in various ethnic groups of Tai-Lao-Khmer. These groups of people not only proceed their living intelligibly, they also have succeeded to conserve their cultural arts since the ancient period, especially the process of weaving. The groups make clothes for daily-used and Buddha venerated or divine worshiped. The weaving textiles are usually made from cotton or silkworm. Each one has distinctively processes of weaving, which are ‘Mudmee silk’, ‘Khid’, ‘Choug’, ‘Heang-ka-rog or soft silk’, and ‘Phrae-wa’. Each kind of those textiles has its own exquisite and worthy style and represents the national intellect, as the heritage of cultural arts. Thus, these textiles should be conserved and boosted continually.

Key word: Textiles, The artistic handicraft.