A Comparative Study of Animals that Describe the Characteristics of Human through Thai and Myanmar Proverbs

The objectives of this research are to compare the types of animals that describe the characteristics of human and the purposes of using that animals as a metaphor in both Myanmar and Thai Languages. People use proverbs to get perfect meaning of what they want in daily conversation. Therefore, the uses of proverbs are more widely spread among people. Proverbs are the standard of a nation. We can estimate the humorous, matureness and thoughts of one nation from their proverbs. (Hla Thamein ,2018) There are many types of proverbs according to their origins. Some of the proverbs are originated from animals, some are from nature, some are from religions and some are from traditional beliefs. Among them, people use animals as a metaphor in proverbs not only to compare the types of animals with human but also to describe human is such kind of animal too. 253 Thai proverbs and 128 Myanmar proverbs that describes the characteristics of human are analysed by using descriptive-comparative method. Myanmar proverbs are collected from Myanmar proverbs by the team of Myanmar Language, The Meaning of Myanmar proverbs and their usages by Hlla Thamein (2018, June) Thai proverbs are collected from Thai proverbs 5000: Akarat Udonphon2. The result reveals the same type of animals that are used as a metaphor in describing the characteristics of human and the purposes of using that animals as a human being. Both Myanmar and Thai people have the same religion, similar traditions and cultures. That make using the similar type of animals in proverbs although there the number and the purposes of proverbs have some differences

A Comparative Study of Thai and Myanmar Proverbs that are related to Animals

The study dales with the comparison of proverbs between Myanmar and Thai Languages. As the proverbs served as the rhetorical devices in languages communication, they can be used as pedagogical tools for language learners. Moreover, it is needed to study the similarities and differences between proverbs in the two languages. Proverbs both in Myanmar and Thai, have a variety of expressions that have the same or similar meanings. In both countries, Proverbs can be used to reflect the culture, thinking, analyzing and knowledge. This paper aims to compare Myanmar and Thai proverbs from cultural point of view. As there are great number of proverbs themed on influence on animals, on human behaviors in daily life, the study is conducted to analyze pedagogical potential of proverbs about animals in teaching traditions, culture and other skills in Myanmar people those who are learning Thai Language and for Thai people those who are learning Myanmar Language. The data were collected from "Thai Proverbs 5000: Akarat Udonphon2 and Myanmar Proverbs and Sayings (Pyin Nyar Kyaw, 2009), and the Meaning of Myanmar's proverbs and their usages by Hla Thamein (2018, June) published by Sake Ku Cho Cho. The descriptive-comparative methods is used in conducting the research. The study reveals that there are both similarities and differences in such proverbs. It is known that Myanmar and Thai people who live in different social and natural conditions can make different proverbs. In the same way, the similar proverbs can be derived from the same religion, moral and similar culture of both countries