Language Vitality and Langauge Attitude of the Karen Ethnic Group in the Western Region of Thailand: A Preliminary Report

Abstract

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.

Effective Enzyme-Producing Bacteria Isolated from Diversified Thai Rice and Native Thai Bees (Cavity Nesting Honey Bees) and their Potential for Production of Protease Enzymes

“…The west area of 53,769 km 2 consists of 5 provinces: Kanchana-buri, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Tak and Ratchaburi. 6 Thailand's agriculture is extremely competitive, diverse and specialized, and its exports are quite successful on a global scale. The most important crop in Thailand is rice (Oryza sativa), 7 with 60 % of 13 million farmers producing it on more than half of all farmed land making a significant exporter in the global rice market.…”