Connotative meaning of number nine in Thai proverbs and idioms at Vietnam

Author: Bui Thanh Hoa (N/A)
Speaker: Bui Thanh Hoa
Topic: Language minorities and majorities
The (SCOPUS / ISI) SOAS GLOCAL CALA 2019 General Session

Abstract

In Thai proverbs and idioms, number nine can be found with quite high frequency in comparison with other numbers. It is capable of flexible combine with different kinds of part of speech. Apart from the basic meaning which denotes the quantity and ordinal order, it do connote plurals, the whole, and the endlessness.

The connotation meanings also show the way people think of their life via real images and things. In addition, it conveys the Thai people’s spiritual life which highly appreciates the happiness, the richness of experience.

Keywords: Number nine, connotative meaning, Thai proverbs and idioms