Abstract:
This thesis, the Meaning of Land Formation in the Ta Mong Lai Folktale, focuses on hidden meaning in the tale. Various methods were used for collecting and analyzing the data. The study compared the different local versions of the tale, meaning attributed to the geographical features and the actual relation between the folktale and landforms. The research shows that Ta Mong Lai is a tale that was written by an unknown cultural ancestor. This tale is a Novella, Sage and Explanatory tale that focuses on its motifs of land formation and ends with traditional lifestyle teaching. It is believed that the tale was first written during the reign of king Rama 5th, originated in the area of Prachuabkirikhan coast and took time to distribute nationwide. Many versions of the tale were created with various details but kept the same structure, which shows unity of groups of people who tell this story around the upper area of the Gulf of Thailand. The tale writer combined geographical knowledge and beauty of local culture into an outstanding folktale to describe the land formation by using an unreal explanation. Most landforms which are motifs in the tale were given meaning by their appearances and shapes, while landform relationships to seatrade routes, local fishery sites and fishing community settlements are not specified in the tale, local knowledge of these relationships gives great significant meaning to the tale. Finally, the researcher found that the Ta Mong Lai folktale is a heritage which is value in cultural study and conservation and the local population should keep on telling this tale for a long to come.