Comparison of kinship terms in Thai and Tae Chiu Chinese

Abstract

This paper aims to compare the Thai kinship terms system with the Tae Chiu Chinese kinship terms system. The features of kinship terms are contrasted by five dimensions: generation, sex, age, parental side and lineality. There are some differences between Thai kinship terms and Tae Chiu Chinese kinship terms that often lead to some difficulty finding an equivalent word. The reasons for dissimilarity are sex, paternal side, and lineality. Tae Chiu Chinese kinship terms are obviously separated between male and female, paternal side and maternal side, and lineal and collateral. On the other hand, there are many Thai kinship terms that are not separated by sex, parental sides or lineality.