Thaitone Colors: Language Structure and Relationship to Thai Society

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the language structure of basic color terms and non-basic color terms of Thaitone and to examine how these color terms relate to culture and environment in the Thai context. The present research uses analysis based on ethnolinguistic concepts, semantic fields and sociocultural perspectives. The results indicate that 156 Thaitone colors can be divided into ten groups: red, yellow, orange, green, black, white, blue, purple, gold, and brown. Thaitone colors are currently at the seventh stage of the Berlin & Kay's hierarchy of basic color terms and consist of nine basic color terms, except sky blue, dark blue, and pink. Thaitone naming construction can be seen in both basic and  non-basic color terms. For basic color terms, only one method appears—basic color term without comparison—while four constructions have been developed for non-basic color terms: 1) non-basic terms without comparison, 2) non-basic color terms with comparison added, 3) non-basic color terms with modifying words added, and 4) only comparison words. All comparison words are found to be the name of entities consisting of 90 inanimate names, 19 animate names, and 6 supernatural names. The semantic domains show that these color terms are closely linked to Thai society and the environment. This relationship can be observed in four basic concepts, namely: 1) Thai society adheres to beliefs, faith, and religious power; 2) Thai society is rich in natural objects; 3) Thai society has a variety of ways of life; and 4) Thai society places a strong emphasis on rhetoric.