THE DICTIONRY CHARACTERISTICS : DICTIONRY FOR BUDDHIST STUDY “KHAM WAT” SERIES AND THAI ROYAL INSTITUE DICTIONRY BE 2554

Abstract

The objective of this article was to compare the dictionary characteristics of "Kham wat" Series by Phra Dhammakittiwong (Thongdee Suratecho Pali Scholar, Level 9, Royal Academy) with Thai Royal Institute Dictionary BE 2554. Lexicography was used to analyze data by defining words and meanings from "Kham wat" Series Dictionary as the indicator for comparison to Thai Royal Institute Dictionary BE 2554.

The results of the study revealed that Dictionary for Buddhist Study “Kham Wat” Series has main elements according to characteristics of the dictionary such as head word, sub word, definition, sorting word and collecting word under lexicography. However, it was found that most elements were overlapped, no consistency, no etymology, lack of grammatical functions in definition and also illustrations. Therefore, Dictionary for Buddhist Study “Kham Wat” Series is Subject Dictionary. It is still incomplete and could not be predictable or standard as Thai Royal Institute Dictionary BE 2554. It is also not a standard for Subject Dictionary. However, content value of the dictionary for Buddhist study “Kham Wat” series was on the Thais’ verbal communication concepts and culture in the context of Buddhism. This could be crucial basic data for revising and editing this dictionary to be a subject dictionary that has the same standard as Thai Royal Institute Dictionary.