A Study of Special Orthographic Words of the Tai Ahom Soul-Calling Manuscripts “Khon Ming Lung Phai”
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Abstract
The purposes of this research were to 1) study the form of special orthographic words found in the Tai Ahom soul-calling manuscript "Khon Ming Lung Phai"; 2) categorise and analyse special orthographic words from Khon Ming Lung Phai manuscripts; and 3) use the special orthographic words as a device to help date the age of Tai Ahom manuscripts. This research used documentary research as a qualitative method to study the 104 pages of Khon Ming Lung Phai manuscripts by translating, categorising, and analysing the data of special orthographic words. Ultimately, the data was compiled in a descriptive analysis and concluded in the form of the research article.
The results showed that special orthographic words used in the Tai Ahom Soul calling manuscripts "Khon Ming Lung Phai" appeared in the form of abbreviated words, which can be divided into five different forms: 1) deleting the similar alphabet, 2) using a diacritic mark (Nikhahit) to replace ending consonants, 3) Using for writing duplication words, 4) using a unique word form, and 5) writing the vocative word as a particle. The knowledge of special orthographic words would make it possible to understand the meaning of abbreviations which have remained unknown for quite a number of Tai Ahom Manuscripts. Moreover, the study showed that the special orthographic words could help to date the age of the Tai Ahom manuscripts by comparing the forms of the special orthographic words found. Last but not least, knowing the Tai Ahom special orthographic words would be profoundly constructive for scholars interested in Tai Ahom manuscript studies as a guideline to help in reading, translating, and comprehending many invaluable stories of Tai Ahom manuscripts in the future.
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