Appellations of Phra Lor in Lilit Phra Lor: A Poetic Analysis through the Yonisomanasikara Principle

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the appellations of Phra Lor within the poetic framework of Lilit Phra Lor, with the additional application of the Buddhist principle of yonisomanasikara. The study examines the appellations in three dimensions: 1) the linguistic forms of the appellations of Phra Lor, 2) their contextual functions within the poetic structure of the text, and 3) their literary conventions. The study analyzed 172 lexical items referring to Phra Lor through a qualitative research design, employing descriptive-analytical methods.

The findings are as follows: 1) The linguistic forms of these lexical items can be categorized into three aspects: 1.1) word and phrase structures, which include monosyllabic, disyllabic, and polysyllabic forms (with polysyllabic forms occurring most frequently); and 1.2) functional units, which include personal pronouns as well as substitutive forms such as proper names, kinship terms, positional titles, and epithets. 2) Within the poetic framework, the appellations of Phra Lor were crafted in accordance with prosodic requirements, including 2.1) word count, 2.2) The placement of ek syllables, 2.3)  The placement of tho syllables, and 2.4) obligatory rhyme. 3) The literary conventions of these lexical items can be classified into three aspects: 3.1) vowel rhyme (assonance), 3.2) consonantal rhyme (alliteration), 3.3) tonal patterns, 3.4) lexical repetition, 3.5) lexical variation, and 3.6) figurative comparison. These features reflect the poet’s ingenuity in crafting  appellations that generate aesthetic resonance in both sound and meaning. Through the application of causal-tracing reasoning grounded in the principle of yonisomanasikara, it becomes evident that these constituent elements give rise to the appellations of Phra lor, which in turn constitute a crucial factor contributing to the esteemed literary value of Lilit Phra Lor.